Volume 95, Issue 5 May 20, 2015
Grace and peace to you from your Call Committee,
Yogi Berra is quoted as saying “It’s like Deja vu all over again”. As the Call Committed embarked on discerning a new pastor for our congregation, I likened it to my dating experience. When I was not long out of high school, and not planning on attending college, many aunts and church ladies began asking “does Mike have a girl friend?” Of course the uncles and men of the congregation admonished me not to date anyone whom I would be embarrassed to bring home to mom. I’m sure many of you have experienced similar questioning, and received similar advice. We have met several nice candidates who are certainly fine individuals and ministers, but they weren’t the one. We agreed to be “friends”.
We met one in December who piqued our interest more than the others and we got together for more conversations. Now, it is time to “meet the parents” so as to continue the analogy. The Call Committee unanimously recommended a candidate to Council, who has had the opportunity to meet for an evening as well. They too are recommending that you members of the St. John’s should meet this individual.
There will be two important opportunities. First on Saturday, May 30th between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, we will introduce the candidate at a social gathering in Fellowship Hall. I encourage all to attend and introduce yourselves, the members of the St. John’s family. The Worship and Music Committee is preparing light refreshments.
The second event will be a double-header on Sunday, May 31st when the candidate will preach trial sermons at both the 8:00 AM and 10:15 AM services. Balloting will be conducted following both services, with the results counted after the late service. A Synod representative will be present to officiate the vote. It is almost cliché-ist for me to stress the importance of your attendance.
Two closing comments. Eighteen months ago, Pastor Karl John with the Synod office met with us to layout the process and explained that during the call process we should be receptive of the Holy Spirit. Kind of like not knowing how children will impact your life, I had no clue what how the Spirit may manifest itself. I do now, and would like to thank the congregation for inviting me to serve.
Secondly, there is a human aspect to this process in that while we may gain a new pastor, another congregation will experience a loss. Any of you who have sought another job know of the need for confidentiality while in the search. There will be an understanding of this when you meet the candidate on May 30th at which time the name will be announced. I ask that everyone respect the need for confidentiality regardless whether a letter of call is extended or not following Sunday’s worship.
In John 1:46 the disciple Philip invites Nathaniel to “come and see” the Messiah. The Call Committee invites you to “come and see” our pastoral candidate on both May 30th and 31st.
For the Call Committee,
Mike Erdley
The House That Love Built
Social Ministry will be collecting items throughout the month of June to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Danville. Please open your heart and support our collection. There will be a laundry basket to place items in the rear of the sanctuary and in the hallway outside the Church Office. Also, please remember we are still collecting can tabs to donate too! June’s monthly pink envelope is designated for the Ronald McDonald House.
The Danville Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families of children being hospitalized or receiving outpatient care at area hospitals. Since 1981, the House has been a place of comfort and stability offering families the opportunity to relax and be together as a family unit during a time of great uncertainty. Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, families no longer need to sleep in hospital waiting rooms or lobbies, nor do they incur the extra financial burden associated
with hotel rates and eating in restaurants. The House is a nonprofit organization and is not owned, operated or funded by McDonald’s Corporation or Geisinger Health System.
Wish List
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Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday/ 1
TOPS 5:15 p.m. / 2
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 3 / 4
Scout District Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 5 / 6
Set up for Ice Cream Social 9:00 a.m.
7
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
50 yr. Confirmation & Volunteer
Recognition
Ice Cream Social / 8
TOPS 5:15 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m. / 9
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 10
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. / 11
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Al anon 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 12 / 13
Fellowship Hall reserved
14
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service 10:15 a.m.
Set up for Bible School
/ 15
TOPS 5:15 p.m.
/ 16
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 17
Messenger folding 9:30 a.m.
Library reserved 12:30-? / 18
Scout Roundtable 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 19 / 20
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:00 a.m.
21
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service 10:15 a.m. / 22
TOPS 5:15 p.m.
WELCA picnic 6:00 p.m. / 23
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 24 / 25
Lighthouse Café 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Al anon 7:00 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. / 26
/ 27
Wedding – Weir/Wendt
28
Worship Service 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service 10:15 a.m. / 29
TOPS 5:15 p.m. / 30
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 8:00 p.m. /
Service Assistants for June 2015
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Acolyte/
Crucifer / Sound
System
June 7
8:00 AM / Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Mary Rogers
June 7
10:15 AM / Don Steele / Joanne and Don Steele / Barb Moyer
Lou VanGilder / Mary Rogers / Lee Miller
Ken Reigle
Larry Redington
Todd Deans / Kanen Bucher / Owen Long
June 14
8:00 AM / Jamie Feaster / Laurie Robinson
June 14
10:15 AM / Ginny Butler / Carolyn Hummel
Jane Ressler / Trish Long
Ginny Butler / Laurie Robinson / Blaine Shaffer
Greg Morton
Tom Propst
Pat Propst / Hanna Long / Bob Berry
June 21
8:00 AM / Brenda Herbert
David Herbert / Jane Ressler
June 21
10:15 AM / Mike Erdley / Jacki and Brian Cunningham / Caitlin Cunningham
Trey Cunningham / Jane Ressler / Doug Manning
Lou VanGilder
Frank Hoffman
Glen Weaver / Ryan Latsha / Mike Erdley
June 28
8:00 AM / Sue Billman
Bill Troutman / Judy Reigle
June 28
10:15 AM / Rachel Anderson / Bonnie and Bob Berry / Blaine Shaffer
Dean Siemsen / Judy Reigle / Bob Berry
Bonnie Berry
Maryann Berry
Mike McWilliams / William Duncan / Lou VanGilder
June
Wishes
June 1
Carolyn Bollinger
Katie Domaracki
June 2
Melissa McAllister
June 3
Nathan Boyer
June Neidig
June 4
Haley Bowersox
Laura Herrold
June 6
CheyenneBenfer
Anna Manning
June 7
Lillian Brouse
Kayla Brown
Jennifer Long
Edward O’Malley
June 8
David Bingaman
Tina Kropa
June 9
Todd Deans
Deborah Schultz
June 10
Virginia Butler
Joshua Saxman
June 11
Elsie Mae Meehan
June 12
Mary Siemsen
Derek Young
June 13
Jennifer Brock
Michael Krebs
June 14
Jacob Hite
Joseph Kitchen
Jeffrey Lynch
Sammi Zeigler
Scott Zeigler
June 15
Wyatt Kohl
Dean Siemsen
June 16
Scott Brouse
Kay Kearney
Tyler London
June 17
June Diehl
Margaret Heckert
Robert Mull, IIII
Brent Smith
June 18
Paige Campbell
Kelly Eisely
Carolyn Stuck
June 19
Thomas Stuck
June 20
Gunner Booker
Ethan Harris
Joshua Manning
Judy Reigle
June 21
Josette Crebs
Steven Hafer
Daniel Hoffman
John Kohl, Jr.
June 22
Tracy Miller
Kelly VanKirk
June 23
Tristan Colescott
Sabrina Doebler
Wendy Herrold
June Seebold
June 24
Arlet Hummel
Raegan Feaster
June 25
Jill Bruder
Daniel Henry
Bradley Wolfe
June 26
Gregory Morton
June 27
Caitlin Booker
Joyce Shearer
June 28
Kaden Campbell
June 30
Mary Menges
Craig Specht
Ashlee Walker
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 May 20, 2015 Volume 95, Issue 5
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
Sundays at St. John’s
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
May 24 – Rev. Dr. Thomas Martin
May 31 – Pastoral Candidate
June 7 – Carol Black, Authorized Lay Worship Leader
June 14 – Mark Giesen – Authorized Lay Worship Leader
June 21 – Carol Black – Authorized Lay Worship Leader
June 28 – Beverly Hoffman – Authorized Lay Worship Leader
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