Volume 94, Issue 23 November 12, 2014
Excerpt taken from God Pause relating to Sunday, November 9th Scripture reading:
Wouldn't you like to know the mind and thoughts of God? What wouldn't we give to know what God knows and to see as God sees! I think about this whenever I hear Jesus' teaching about the kingdom of heaven. In essence, Jesus shows his followers God's concept for how life might look like here on earth.
In Matthew 25, we learn some things about God's kingdom as it takes shape in our time of waiting for Jesus' return. The first glimpse we catch is that God's timing remains a mystery to us. Nobody knows the exact time when the bridegroom will appear to gather his followers in celebration. The second is more troubling, when we note that some are let in to the wedding banquet while others are rejected because they are unprepared. We're left to wonder what kind of God is this who seems to exclude some from the festivities.
Still we may find comfort in Jesus' teaching that anyone can be ready by doing the obvious, by being prepared and ready, with "oil in our lamps" when the bridegroom comes.
Gracious Father, help us do that which we already know how to do in preparing for your Son's return. Amen.
Keith Anderson
Pastor, First Lutheran Church Ketchikan, Ala.
Master of Divinity, 1989
Matthew 25:1-13
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;
4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.
6 But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'
7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.
11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us.'
12 But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.'
13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Thursday, November 13 Social Ministry Committee, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, November 14 Deadline to drop off items for Harvest Home
Saturday, November 15 Kathryn’s Kloset, 9-11:00 a.m.
Christmas Tree Craft Day, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Sunday, November 16 HARVEST HOME
Monday, November 17 WELCA, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 19 Lighthouse Café, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Thanksgiving meal
Thursday, November 20 Messenger deadline, 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 26 Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, November 27 HAPPY THANKSGIVING – Office Closed
Friday, November 28 Office Closed
Saturday, November 29 Fellowship Hall reserved, 2-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 30 Hanging of the Greens Service, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Finish decorating sanctuary following late service
Thursday, November 20 Chicken & Waffle Dinner, Grace Lutheran Church, Sunbury,
4-6:30 p.m.; $8 adult, $4 (6-12), under 5 eat free
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857
Periodical postage paid at Northumberland, PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to St. John’s Messenger,
300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER November 12, 2014 Volume 94, Issue 23
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
November 16, 2014
Mindelle Bartholomew, Authorized Lay Worship Leader
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Next Sunday at St. John’s
November 23, 2014
Vincent Meisinger, Authorized Lay Worship Leader
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Church Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Rev. Andrew Fitch, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music
D December 1
Shelly Hite
Ed Snyder
Jeffrey Steele
Eileen White
December 2
Brian Crebs
Teresa Miller
Tracey Streck
Jeffrey Zerbe
December 3
Adam Crebs
Nathan Savidge
December 4
Jamie Roseman
Polly Hetrick
Eleanor Hollenbach
December 5
Glenn Kreitzer
December 6
Matthew Miller
December 7
Renee Albertson
Sally Lewis
Cody Moser
December 8
Christina Bowman
Krista Feaster
Franklin Hoffman
December 9
Averie Bingaman
Kristina Brouse
Lily Fox
Elizabeth Henry
Tammy Matrey
Sally Mayer
Dawson Sees
Drake Sees
December 10
Brendon Herrold
David Menges
December 11
Susan Billman
Fietta Osman
Jada Seal
December 12
William Brennen, Jr.
Phyllis Gordon
Helen Naginey
December 13
Joshua Pahl
Tobias Shirk
Teresa Stutzman
December 14
Corey Buch
Cynthia Moser
December 15
Debra Kuttruff
December 17
Joel Dreese
Virginia Rosancrans
December 18
David Bartholomew
Casey Ferentz
Mason Herrera
Jeanne Zerbe
December 19
Michael Berry
Anthony Bonaventura
Andrew Litchard
Walter Lyter
Shannon Ulp
December 20
Rodney Eichner
Betty Schreffler
December 21
Deborah Bright
December 22
Heather Heckert
J. Donald Steele, Jr.
December 23
Elda Bowen
Joshua Krebs
December 24
Paige Billman
Morgan Doyle
Chad Smith
Hollie VanKirk
Amy Whitecavage
December 25
Jesus
Brandon Auman
Donna Bickel
Nathan Campbell
JoAnne Frehafer
Sheila Mills
Christa Roush
December 26
Harold Billman
Scott Neidig
December 27
Dalton Brennen
Elisha Clark
Sherry Russell
Alyssa Zerbe
December 28
Bonnie Leitzel
December 29
LuAnn Kerstetter
Kevin Shilo
James Williams
Angela Zerbe
December 30
Richard Berry, Jr.
Rylee Campbell
Megan Hoffman
James Kiger
December 31
Courtlynn Boyle
December 2014 Service Assistants
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Crucifer / Acolyte/
Torch-
bearer / Sound
System
Dec 7
8:00 AM / Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Judy Reigle
Dec 7
10:15 AM / Don Steele / Joanne & Don Steele / Blaine Shaffer
Dean Siemsen / Judy Reigle / Barb Moyer
Teresa Miller
Lori Bogovich
Trish Long / Hanna Long / Rebekah Amerman / Rachel Anderson
Dec 14
8:00 AM / Judy Dunkelberger
Jamie Feaster / Jacki Cunningham
Dec 14
10:15 AM / Mike Erdley / Franklin Hoffman
Frank Hoffman / Nancy Erdley
Mike Erdley / Jacki Cunningham / Bob Berry
Bonnie Berry
Maryann Berry
Mike McWilliams / Eryn Swanger / William Duncan / Bob Berry
Dec 21
8:00 AM / Brenda Herbert
David Herbert / Karen Smeltz
Dec 21
10:15 AM / Caitlin Cunningham / Mary & Greg Morton / Caitlin Cunningham
Trey Cunningham / Karen Smeltz / Doug Manning
Lou VanGilder
Franklin Hoffman
Frank Hoffman / Kanen Bucher / Ryan Latsha / Mike Erdley
Dec 24
Family Service
6:30 PM / Mike and Nancy Erdley / TBD / Cindy Manning / Trey Cunningham
Caitlin Cunningham
Rebekah Amerman
Derek Amerman
Brian Cunningham / Kobe Swanger / Owen Long
Eryn Swanger
Hanna Long / Mike Erdley
Dec 24
Candlelight
Service w/
Communion
10:30 PM / Dean Siemsen / Judy Reigle
Teresa Miller / Barb Moyer
Lou VanGilder / Linda Bingaman / Lee Miller
Ken Reigle
David Menges
Derek Menges / Brandon Deans
William Duncan
Rachel Anderson / Bob Berry
Dec 28
8:00 AM / Sue Billman
Bill Troutman / Jane Ressler
Dec 28
10:15 AM / Ginny Butler / Carolyn Smith
Jane Ressler / Trish Long
Ginny Butler / Jane Ressler / Blaine Shaffer
Greg Morton
Tom Propst
Pat Propst / Rebekah Amerman / Kanen Bucher / Lou Van
Gilder
December 2014
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
/ 1
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 2
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 3
Set up for Bazaar 9 a.m.-?
Girl Scouts 6:15-7:15 p.m. / 4
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 5 / 6
7 Carol Black presiding
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 8
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 9
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 10
Messenger folding 9:30 a.m.
Girl Scouts 6:15-7:15 p.m
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. / 11
Social Ministry 6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 12 / 13
14 Rev Shellhamer
presiding
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 15
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 16
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 17
Lighthouse Café 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Girl Scouts 6:15-7:15 p.m / 18
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable 7:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 19 / 20
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:00 a.m.
21 Carol Black presiding
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 22
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 23
Messenger folding 9:30 a.m.
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 24
Mark Geisen presiding
Christmas Eve Family
Service w/ communion 6:30 p.m.
Candlight Service w/communion
10:30 p.m. / 25 OFFICE CLOSED
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 26
OFFICE CLOSED / 27
28 George Groff presiding
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 29
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 30
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 31
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m. / January 1 2015
Office closed / 2
Office closed