Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church
NOVEMBER 2025
Parson’s points
SEASONS OF CHANGE
I have always enjoyed living in a place that has changing seasons. Although each season has its beauty, Pennsylvania really shows its colors at this time of year. The vivid reds and golds of our forests are truly a spectacle to behold! The 15-minute drive from our home in Temple to the church becomes a beautiful pageant in late October and early November.
The Bible tells us that the changing seasons are a sign of God’s faithfulness. In Genesis 8:22, after the great flood, God promises Noah that as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. They are also a sign of God’s mighty power. In Daniel 2:21, Daniel praises God and acknowledges that God changes the times and the seasons. Wisdom and power are His!
Probably the most famous Bible verse about seasons is Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. This scripture really personalizes it for us. King Solomon wonders about the meaning of life and God shows him that life is all about seasons and change. God has a purpose for every season He sends into our lives. Some times of our lives are like autumn: rich in color, busy in harvest, and a time of pleasant weather. But autumn is also a time of saying goodbye. As we gather food for the winter, we also need to let go of the warm weather and the summer vacations and the abundant sunshine. We need to let go so that we may prepare for winter and the time of darkness and rest. But the hope of spring is always right around the corner.
Let’s thank God for His faithfulness in all seasons and seek what He has to teach us in each one!
In His Service, Pastor Vaughn and Lisa
610-396-5942
Email-spiespastor.vaughn@gmail.com
ANNUAL WOMEN’S MINISTRIES BAZAAR
November 1, 2025 @ 7 A.M.
Breakfast, Cookies, Baked Goods &
Multiple vendor tables
BREAKFAST CLUB
November 5th, @ 8 A.M. @ Chatty’s
November 18th, @ 8 A.M. @ Breakfast Hut
MEN’S MINISTRIES
Next meeting, November 8th at 8 A.M.
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY November 9th
ALL SAINTS DAY – “TOTENFEST”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd – 10:30 A.M.
Let us observe and pay tribute together on this day to all who have passed away during this year.
PAKISTAN PRESENTATION
November 22, 2025
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
In the Social Hall
Small Pakistani meal/desserts provided
ADVENT Begins November 30th
With Holy Communion
THANKOFFERING SUNDAY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, 2025
The women of the church will participate in our morning worship. Thank offerings received on that day will be used to assist our members or neighbors in need. Your yearly box of envelopes contains the envelope for your Thankoffering.
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE
Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held on Wednesday, November 26th, at 7:30 P.M. at Zion Spies Lutheran Church. Please plan on attending this spirit-filled service showing our thanks to God.
SPIES DART BASEBALL
November 5th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
November 12th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
November 19th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
November 25th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R. (Holy Spirit)
Anyone interested in throwing can call
Kenny Manwiller at 484-332-8092.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Coming up on December 14th after the 10:30A.M. service to approve the budget for 2026.
CALENDARS AND DAY PLANNERS
The various charities are starting to send out their 2026 calendars. If you do not want them please bring them to the church and give them to Linda Wilson. She will pass them on to the soup kitchen.
CHRISTMAS CANTATA
“PROMISE OF PEACE”
You won't want to miss the Christmas Cantata this year on Sunday December 21st at 10:30:
"Promise Of Peace"
Performed by the combined Reformed and Lutheran choirs. Bring your families and friends.
"God has highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
NEWLETTER ARTICLES
ARE DUE THE SECOND TO LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH
The Chosen – Tuesday evenings at 7:00 P.M. at the Starr’s home in Temple. Are you free on Tuesday evenings and looking for something to do? Join us at our home in Temple at 7 PM to watch
The Chosen – Season 5.
CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL MUSIC
Please see Jeff Griffin, if you would like to share your musical talent at the upcoming Sunday Services or Christmas Eve Service.
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
Advent Season starts on November 30th.
We will be using only RED poinsettias again this year. Order form is included in this newsletter or may be found on the table in the Narthex. Due December 7th
Don’t forget our Homeless Veterans Mission. Lunches and Care Packages for November, items due Nov. 16th
STEWARDSHIP
We have met and discussed expenses for the upcoming year. We have the final figures ready for the 2026 budget.
We will be presenting the 2026 budget to the Consistory on Nov.17th and then to the congregation for discussion and approval on December 14, 2025 @ 11:30 A.M.
Stewardship Sunday November 9th@10:30 A.M
SALVATION ARMY ANGEL TREE
This year we will collect a monetary gift for the Salvation Angel Tree.
All money should be in by November 30th
There are specially marker envelopes on the table in the Narthex
POINSETTIA 2025
We will be doing Poinsettias this year for the Christmas season. We will only be doing one color -RED. $9.40/plant. Order forms are available on the table in the Narthex or in your November newsletter. See or call Sue Barnett with any questions 610-779-9787
Orders due Dec. 7th
BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER LISTS
Card shower lists for members of our congregation 80 yrs. of age and over provided by Evangelism Outreach, the list is available on our church website www.zionspieser.com or the side table in the Narthex.
Help us honor these special folks.
ALL SAINTS DAY – “TOTENFEST”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd – 10:30 A.M.
Let us observe and pay tribute together on this day to all who have passed away during this past year.
Vera Kershner January 31, 2025
*Harold Readinger February 22, 2025
Sallie Fisher March 18, 2025
Leonard Fritz April 3, 2025
Barry Griffith May 1, 2025
Mary Minnich May 30, 2025
Bernard Hughes July 12, 2025
*Joseph Ustaszewski July 24, 2025
Brian Boyer July 28, 2025
*Patricia Hertzog August 23, 2025
*Barry Vogt October 1, 2025
*denotes church member
He Hath Made Everything Beautiful
JUST A REMINDER! Please remember to notify the church office regarding anyone in the hospital or of any transfers from hospitals to home or to any other facility. It becomes difficult sometimes to keep up with everyone’s moves which results in extra traveling. Thanks so much.
FUTURE PLANNING
The new 2026 church worship calendars are available on the table in the Narthex.
2026 Flower Chart (Jan.-Oct.) is ready to be filled out, please think about sponsoring.
2026 Offering envelopes are in your mailbox.
ZION’S SPIES E.R. CHURCH WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Potato Filling $9.00/quart
Pepper Cabbage $4.00/Pint or $6.00/Quart
Order forms are on the table in the Narthex
Get your orders in by Sunday, November 16th to Sue Barnett
Looking for helpers on Nov. 24th @ 7 A.M.-Noon
Pick-up Nov. 24th 1P.M. – 5 P.M.
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES is selling tickets for a small cold sandwich from M&M’s Sandwich Shop in Oley
Please see Sue Barnett for tickets. Cost $7.00
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES UPDATE
Now that daylight is getting shorter, Daylight Savings Time will be arriving shortly, and the weather is definitely colder, can this mean we are in the month of November already?
Women’s Ministries bazaar which will be held on Saturday, November 1st, from 7:00 A.M. to Noon, is expected to be a success, and as always the Men’s Ministries will be preparing a delicious breakfast buffet-7:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Cost for breakfast is still $10 for adults and $5 for children. We are so thankful to them for providing it every year at our bazaar. Of course, there will be homemade cookies for $10/pound for sale and baked goodies donated by our church women to whom we also offer our appreciation. There will be used books, and various “attic” items for sale. We also acknowledge the vendors with their crafts.
With the arrival of Thanksgiving, once again we will be making potato filling and pepper cabbage on November 24th and we are looking for helpers that day. We start at 7:00 A.M. with the preparation. There is an order form enclosed in this newsletter to be given to Sue Barnett along with your payment. Orders can be picked up that afternoon from 1P.M. to 5 P.M.
We still have sandwich tickets for sale from
M & M Sandwich Shop in Oley for $7 each for a small cold sandwich.
As always stated in our newsletter articles, we invite any lady to join us at our monthly meetings and join in the fellowship. We meet every month on the second Tuesday. Our next meeting will be November 11th at 11:00 A.M.
REDNER’S SAVE A TAPE PROGRAM
We should have another check coming soon.
Our church gets 1% of the total of your register receipts. You must have a SAVE A TAPE card which you can get at your store’s courtesy desk. Thank you for your continued support.
Customers must use their 1% Save-A-Tape card for purchase. This will be noted on the bottom of the receipt. Please submit the receipt in the wooden box on top of the food cupboard in the church narthex. Please do not use a highlighter marker on your
receipts, it can erase the totals. All receipts must say Save-A Tape Total Fuel purchases are not considered. Thank you.
HELP OUR HOMELESS VETERANS
LUNCHES WILL BE MADE NOVEMBER 19th
ALONG WITH CARE PACKAGES
We will be looking for small bags of chips, pretzels, tastycakes, fresh fruit, small plastic containers of fruit or applesauce, or puddings (ones that don’t need a can opener). Sign –ups on the table in the Narthex if you wish to contribute personal care items or lunch items or call the church office during the week. It can be dropped off on Sundays in the Narthex or given to Sue during the week when she is in the office.
Mon. –Thurs. 9am-2pm
Items due Nov. 16th
They are no longer taking clothes, blankets or sleeping bags. Donations they do need are hand soap, wipes, toilet paper, and paper towels. Envelopes available on top of the mailboxes if you would like to make a monetary donation. Our thanks to all that support this mission. Because God gives us all we need, we should give to those in need.
THANKSGIVING
We thank Thee for the pioneers,
The heritage they gave,
The courage of their gallant hearts,
Undaunted by the grave.
We thank Thee for the land they left
In trust, a vast array;
For priceless freedoms that we take
For granted every day.
O Lord, whose dwelling transcends space,
We thank Thee; let there be
A prayer of praise from every heart
That prizes liberty.
- Unknown
THE PILGRIM FATHERS
O God, beneath Thy guiding hand
Our exiled fathers crossed the sea;
And when they trod the wintry strand,
With prayer and psalm they worshipped Thee.
Thou heard'st, well pleased, the song, the prayer:
Thy blessing came; and still its power
Shall onward through all ages bear
The memory of that holy hour.
Laws, freedom, truth, and faith in God
Came with those exiles o'er the waves;
And where their pilgrim feet have trod,
The God they trusted guards their graves.
And here Thy name, O, God of love,
Their children's children shall adore,
Till these eternal hills remove,
And spring adorns the earth no more.
~~Leonard Bacon, 1802-1881
WE THANK THEE
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky;
For pleasant shade of branches high;
For fragrant air and cooling breeze;
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
~~Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882
PRAYER REQUEST FORM
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Prayer needs_____________________________
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Your name (will be used to get updates)
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