Fwd: Bulletin Announcement

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From: Wolf, Kay <wolfk@etown.edu>
Date: Wed, Nov 4, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Subject: Bulletin Announcement
To: info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org <info@gehmanmennonitechurch.org>

Greetings!

 

Please include this announcement in your church bulletin or announcement list on Nov. 8 and Nov. 15.

 

Elizabethtown College’s Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies presents the SNOWDEN LECTURE, “They Moved the School! Amish Education in the 21st Century” by Mark W. Dewalt on Tues., November 17, 7 pm, in the Bucher Meetinghouse.

Dewalt will explore three fascinating dimensions of Amish education: the remarkable growth of Amish schools across the United States and Canada, the distinctive teaching styles and educational values that shape student learning, and a behind-the-scenes look at the experiences and everyday moments that make Amish schools distinctive. 

Mark Dewalt, a native of nearby Berks County, earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Muhlenberg College and a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Evaluation at the University of Virginia. He is a faculty emeritus at Winthrop University.

For more information, visit www.etown.edu/youngctr/events or call 717-361-1470.

 

Thank you.

 

The Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies

Elizabethtown College

One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022

717-361-1470

youngctr@etown.edu

www.etown.edu/youngctr

 

Fwd: Experience Bethlehem Like Never Before

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From: Woodcrest Retreat <hospitality-woodcrestretreat.org@shared1.ccsend.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 3, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Subject: Experience Bethlehem Like Never Before
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

Reserve your spot today – spots are limited!

Journey to Bethlehem Awaits Step back in time and experience the story of Jesus's birth at  Woodcrest Retreat's Journey to Bethlehem!  Bring your family and friends for a special Christmas experience as you travel through Bethlehem and witness the greatest story ever told. Reserve Your Spot Experience the Story of Christmas Like Never Before! This Christmas season, step back in time and experience the wonder of the very first Christmas at Woodcrest Retreat's Journey to Bethlehem! Bring your family and friends for a memorable evening as you walk through the historical story of Jesus' birth. With more than 70 actors, live animals, and over 300 glowing luminaries, you'll experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem along beautiful candlelit wooded trails. As you travel through Bethlehem, you'll encounter Biblical characters, interact with shepherds and merchants, experience the excitement of the marketplace, hear the angels proclaim the good news, and finally arrive at the stable to witness the wonder of Baby Jesus in the manger. This is more than a Christmas event; it's an opportunity to slow down, experience the true meaning of Christmas, and celebrate the birth of our Savior together! PLAN YOUR VIST Friday, December 11 | 6:00–9:00 PM Saturday, December 12 | 5:00–9:00 PM Friday, December 18 | 6:00–9:00 PM Saturday, December 19 | 5:00–9:00 PM   ADMISSON Enjoy this special Christmas experience with your family and friends! Adults: $15 Children (ages 5–16): $10 Children 4 and under: FREE  Family Maximum: $60 The maximum family admission is $60 for family members living at the same address. Gather your family, invite your friends, and join us for an unforgettable Journey to Bethlehem! WHAT TO EXPECT A live nativity experience featuring 70+ actors and live animals. Over 300 luminaries lighting the entrance and wooded trails. An open-air wagon ride to the starting point of your journey. Approximately 45–60 minutes of walking through the Christmas story. A bus ride back to the parking area. A FEW THIINGS TO KNOW Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled time slot. Your entire group must be present before beginning the journey. Since this is an outdoor experience along wooded trails with uneven terrain, dress warmly and wear comfortable, water-resistant shoes or boots. Please note that strollers and walking assistance cannot be accommodated along the trails. Limited golf cart transportation is available for guests with handicap needs by calling our office in advance. Timeslots are available for registration, and we encourage you to reserve your spot early so you don't miss out on this special Christmas experience. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & RESERVE YOUR TIMESLOT! We look forward to welcoming you, your family, and your friends to Woodcrest Retreat for an unforgettable Journey to Bethlehem! Come experience the true story of Christmas! Woodcrest Retreat

Woodcrest Retreat | 225 Woodcrest Drive | Ephrata, PA 17522 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice

Fwd: November 1st

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From: REAL LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICES <robyn@reallcs.org>
Date: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Subject: November 1st
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

View this email in a browser

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

Hope Happens Here!     Our Thanks4Giving campaign is officially underway, and we’re excited to see how God will provide for the work He’s doing through REAL Life Community Services over the next year!     This year’s theme, Hope Happens Here, is a reminder that Hope is more than a word. It’s found in the family who receives food when their pantry is running low, the mother finding support and stability, the student building a relationship with a caring mentor, and the neighbor who finds someone willing to walk alongside them through a difficult season. Every day, we have the opportunity to connect people to Hope through the many programs and services God has placed in our care.     Our goal is to raise $350,000 or more to sustain this ministry over the next 12 months. From food assistance and youth programs to housing, mentoring, and social services, these resources help us continue meeting physical, emotional, and spiritual needs throughout our community. Would you be part of Thanks4Giving with us?     There are several ways to join in! Share our posts and stories with your friends and family to help more people learn about the work happening through REAL Life. Pray that God would provide for the needs of this ministry and move hearts to give as He leads. And if you feel led and are able, consider making a gift to help sustain this work over the next year. Every prayer, shared story, and gift is an opportunity to be part of what God is doing in our community.     We know there are many needs ahead, but we trust the Lord to provide and are thankful for everyone who walks alongside us in this ministry.     Thank you for being part of the Hope that happens here!

Faithful Give: Serving Together, Trusting God     What a blessing it is to see our community come together to support the work God is doing through Non-profits in Lancaster County Pennsylvania! Through this year’s Faithful Give campaign, $13,735 was given to support REAL Life Community Services and the friends and families we serve.     We are so grateful for everyone who donated, shared our posts, cheered us on, and helped spread the word. Every gift is a reminder that we aren’t doing this work alone. God continues to bring people alongside us who share a heart for connecting our community to Hope.     While there are still many needs to meet and resources to trust Him for, we are thankful for His provision and excited to see how He will continue to work through REAL Life and our community! A Little Help Can Go a Long Way!     We’re excited to share an update to our recent plea for help finding a bicycle for a gentleman in our community! Thanks to The Common Wheel in Lancaster, PA, we were able to provide him with a bike, a helmet, and all the necessary items to ride safely. The Common Wheel’s mission is “to revolutionize people and places using the energy and equity of bicycles,” and we’re grateful to see that mission in action as they helped us meet a practical need and provide a little more freedom, independence, and opportunity.     At REAL Life, we believe Hope can show up in many ways—even in the form of a bicycle! Thank you to The Common Wheel for coming alongside us to help connect this gentleman with what he needed. It’s a wonderful reminder of what can happen when our community works together to care for one another.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Last Chance for Tickets Get Your Tickets NOW!     Have you gotten your tickets yet? There’s still time to join us for the 3rd Annual Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL on Thursday, November 12, from 6–8 PM at IronSpire Complex in Adamstown!     Come enjoy delicious food from local vendors competing for Cocalico’s favorite appetizers, entrees, beverages, and desserts. With live music, raffles, a live auction, and plenty of great food, it’s a fun night out for a good cause!     Don’t wait! Get your tickets today and join us in Voting for the next Top Chefs in Cocalico!

Starting November 13th!     This year, Refreshing Mountain is giving nonprofit partners an exciting new way to turn Christmas Lights visits into support for their mission. Each participating nonprofit will receive a unique promotional code to share with supporters, friends, family, and community members.     When someone uses REAL Life’s organization’s code to reserve their Christmas Lights experience…     Refreshing Mountain will donate 10% of the reservation total to OUR ORGANIZATION!     Experience the magic of Christmas Lights while helping make a difference in our community! Keep an eye on your inbox for REAL Life Community Services’ promotional code—use it when making your reservation, and 10% of your reservation total will be donated to REAL Life at no extra cost to you. Use Promo Code: RL2026 Book Your Christmas Experience NOW!

New Event Coming!     REAL Life Community Services is partnering with Inspire Pottery Studio to bring Inspire Hope: An Empty Bowls Event to the Cocalico Area! This casual luncheon invites guests to sample a variety of soups, salads, stews, desserts, and other delicious dishes from food stations around the room. Each guest will also have the opportunity to choose a one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl handcrafted and donated by local pottery artists. It’s a chance to enjoy good food, connect with the community, and take home a unique piece of pottery with a meaningful story behind it.     Save the date, as we will have more details to come! Save The Date

Join us in Prayer & Praises     We know there are many meaningful ways to partner with us, and one of the most impactful is through prayer. That’s why we’re beginning a new initiative—inviting those who visit our office or warehouse to share their prayer requests with us.     If you’d like to come alongside us in lifting up these needs, we’d love to have you join our prayer email list. Simply click the button below to sign up and receive updates so you can pray with us regularly. Join our Prayer Team! This Month’s Prayers & Praises  Praises All our families have Crock Pots!- During the last couple of months we have asked you to help us provide slow-cooker crock pots for our families in the Power Packs program, and you did it! We have more than enough crock pots for not only our Power Packs families, but also some families we know are living in motels and don't have access to a kitchen in order to cook actual meals. We are so thankful for each and every crock pot recieved, but even more thankful for the people who helped fulfill this need! The Glory House has a new resident! Early in October, we welcomed a mother and her son into the Glory House. We are grateful for this opportunity to walk alongside them and pray that their time here is fruitful as they grow, thrive, and discover all that the Lord has planned for their lives. Faithful Give provided an opportunity to serve together! Through Faithful Give, God provided $13,735 to support the work of REAL Life. We are grateful for everyone who gave, shared, encouraged, and helped make this campaign possible. While we continue to trust Him for the resources needed to meet the many needs in our community, we are thankful for His provision and for the people He brings alongside us in this ministry. God provided a bicycle to meet a practical need! After sharing a plea for help finding a bicycle for a gentleman in our community, God provided through The Common Wheel in Lancaster, PA. He now has a bike, helmet, and the necessary safety items to ride securely. We are grateful for community partners who come alongside us to help meet needs and provide opportunities for greater independence! Prayer Requests For wisdom and provision: Please pray for wisdom as we navigate so many needs with limited resources. Housing requests continue to grow, but affordable options are scarce. Our food distribution program is also growing, and we need more volunteers who can invest their time in the program. We are also in great need of volunteers to drive our neighbors to appointments and help them shop at our warehouse. For our Thanks4Giving campaign: As we enter our year-end fundraising campaign, we need to raise $350,000 or more to continue serving our community over the next 12 months. Please pray that hearts would be open to giving and that the Lord would bless this ministry and provide for the needs ahead. Without His blessing, all our efforts are in vain! For Cocalico Cooks 4 REAL: As we put the finishing touches on this year's event, we've faced a few unexpected challenges and are trusting the Lord to bring everything together. Please pray that the evening would be a wonderful experience for everyone who attends, that things would run smoothly, and that our guests would be moved to give generously through the live auction to support the work of REAL Life. For Robyn and her baby: Our Director of Development, Robyn (Redcay) Iordanescu, is expecting her first child, a daughter, the week of Thanksgiving! Please pray for the health and safety of both Robyn and her baby as they prepare for this exciting new chapter. Thank you for partnering with us in prayer — it truly makes a difference. Help us keep these programs and more going! Consider a generous gift today to Connect the Community to Hope! Give Now

First Friday Food Drive November 6th Every first Friday of the month, we host a food drive in the back parking lot of the Declaration House. It’s a way the community can give back and help donate items that we need.  You can drop off food at any time from 3-5 pm on that Friday.

Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays, 8-9PM & Ladies AA Thursdays, 6:30-7:30PM Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center.

Denver Elementary Moms In Prayer 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9:15-10:15AM Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center

Momentum Tuesdays, 6:30PM-8PM Momentum guarantees a young person that there is someone who cares about them. A child needs to know that they are not alone in dealing with the day-to-day challenges of life. Momentum meets at the Lighthouse Community Center throughout the school year following the Cocalico School District calendar.

Young at Heart Wednesdays, 9-11AM All events are free and are for individuals that are 60 years and older. Coffee, chatting, games, speakers, and MORE! Come out and get to know others in your community!  1st & 3rd Wednesdays we meet at Adamstown Area Library! 2nd & 4th Wednesdays we meet at Faith Evangelical United Lutheran Church in Denver!

Aglow International Bible Study 3rd Saturdays, 9:30-11:30am Meeting at the Lighthouse Community Center. For more information, reach out to Aglow.denverpa@gmail.com

© REAL Life Community Services 2026. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 240 MAIN ST STE B DENVER, PA 17517-1623

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