Volume 92, Issue 23 November 14, 2012
Luke 17:11-19 “He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.”
I have noticed that some people as they age become rather grumpy and critical, often due to physical or emotional pain. And I have wondered how to avoid this for myself, because I don’t want to be a grumpy old woman. Then one year I looked closely at one of the lessons for Thanksgiving: the story of the ten lepers who met Jesus on the road and asked for mercy. Jesus sent them to the priests to be certified as “clean.”
One the way to the priests they discovered that they were free of leprosy. Can you just imagine their amazement, their excitement?! And their exuberant discussion of what to do now that they could return to their homes and families, their normal lives!
Then one of the group, the foreigner, the outsider (so to speak) suggested they return and say “Thank you” to Jesus. The tone of the discussion would change: would Jesus ask them to go with him, to be a disciple? That was more than they could handle. Or maybe they would argue that they could do it later, that they really wanted to get home to see their wives and children. We can only imagine how the conversation went but the result was that only one returned.
And look at the response: Jesus told him, “Your faith has made you well – saved you, made you whole.” He gained wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.
There is a difference between being cured and being made whole and well. You can be rid of the disease but not the anger or the bitterness or resentment that you carry. You may be physically recovered but be depressed, lonely, doubting. You can be rid of the disease but become arrogant and self-satisfied with an attitude of “I deserve it.” Gratitude brought him true joy because he was able to recognize the source of his life and his healing. He recognized the One from whom restoration had come, the One who had made him whole.
St. Paul, expecting to be executed, wrote to Philippi "I give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." His letters are full of the joy of Christ.
Pastor Martin Rinkhart lived in Germanyin the early 1600’s, atime of wars, famine and pestilence and death. During that time his wife and family died. Yet during those years of darkness and despair, when death and destruction greeted each new day, Pastor Rinkart wrote “Now thank we all our GodWith hearts and hands and voices,Who wondrous things hath done,In whom His world rejoices;Who, from our mothers’ arms,Hath blessed us on our wayWith countless gifts of love,And still is ours today.”
Pr. Rinkart demonstrated a valuable lesson for us all: Thankfulness does not have to wait for prosperity and peace. It’s always a good time to praise God for the “wondrous things” He has done.
Gratitude led to wholeness and joy for that one returning leper; gratitude has brought joy and peace to the lives of St. Paul, Pr. Rinkhart, and many others. It can do the same for you and for me. So count your blessings every day. And Thanks be to God!
Wednesday, November 14Messenger folding, 9:30 .a.m.
Church Council, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 15Boy Scout Roundtable, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 16Fellowship Hall reserved
Saturday, November 17Fellowship Hall reserved
Kathryn’s Kloset, 9-11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 21Ministerium Thanksgiving Eve Service, at St. Mark’s
Episcopal Church, Northumberland, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 22Thanksgiving Day – OFFICE CLOSED
Friday, November 23Office Closed
Girl Scouts/Fellowship Hall 5-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23Men’s Prayer Breakfast, 8:00 a.m., ChristUnitedMethodistChurch
Wednesday, November 28Set up for Bazaar, 9:00-?
Friday, November 30Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, December 1Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, November 15Lasagna Dinner, GraceLutheranChurch, Sunbury
$8 Adult; $4 for children 6-12; under 5 eat free
Saturday, November 17Service Event for the Hungry, CampMt.Luther, Mifflinburg,
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Contact Pastor Karl-John Stone
at 524-9778 to sign up for a shift.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER (USPS-515-660) is published biweekly, annually, by
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, PA17857.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER November 14, 2012 Volume 92, Issue 23
St. John’s Evangelical
LutheranChurch
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
November 18, 2012
Harvest Home
8:00 a.m. Worship Service
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service
Next Sunday at St. John’s
November 25, 2012
Christ the King Sunday
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
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
MarthaSue Moll, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music
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
Michael Ray
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
December 10
Brendon Herrold
David Menges
December 11
Susan Billman
William Brungard
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
Frances Hoffman
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
Harold (Bud) Diehl
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 2012Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
Nov 30
Christmas Bazaar
9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. / 1
Christmas Bazaar
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Cookies with Santa
9-10:00 a.m.
2
1st Sunday in Advent
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 3
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 4
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 5 / 6
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Worship & Music 7:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 7 / 8
9
2nd Sunday in Advent
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 10
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 11
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 12
Messenger Folding
9:30 a.m.
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. / 13
Social Ministry 6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 14 / 15
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:15 a.m.
16
3rd Sunday in Advent
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 17
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 18
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 19 / 20
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 21 / 22
23
4th Sunday in Advent
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
Service times to be announced / 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
/ 26
Messenger Folding
9:30 a.m. / 27
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 28 / 29
30
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 31
New Year’s Eve
Office Closed / Jan 1
New Year’s Day
Office Closed
Service Assistants for December 2012
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Crucifer / Acolyte/
Torch-
bearer / Sound
System
December 2
8:00 AM / Bill Troutman
Sue Billman / Cindy Manning
December 2
10:15 AM / Mike Erdley / Helen & Ed Snyder / Mike Erdley
Blaine Shaffer / Cindy Manning / Tina Pontius, Capt.
Barb Moyer
Trush Long
Virginia Butler / Derek Young / Derek Amerman / Nick Auman
QUIET COMMUION
December 9
8:00 AM / Brenda Herbert
David Herbert / Esther Bartholomew
December 9
10:15 AM / Blaine Shaffer / Maryann Berry
Bonnie Berry / Doug Manning
Nick Auman / Esther Bartholomew / David Menges, Capt.
Derek Menges
Blaine Shaffer
Greg Morton / Rachel Anderson / Amanda Hite / Bob Berry
December 16
8:00 AM / Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Jane
Ressler
December 16
10:15 AM / Virginia Butler / Barb Moyer
Tina Pontius / Trish Long
Virginia Butler / Jane
Ressler / Bob Berry, Capt.
Bonnie Berry
Maryann Berry
Mike McWilliams / Dylan Kremer / Cole Stuck / David Menges
December 23
8:00 AM / Bill Troutman
Sue Billman / Lorraine Weaver
December 23
10:15 AM / Elaine
Kohl / Judy & Frank Hoffman / Mary Menges
David Menges / Lorraine Weaver / Doug Manning, Capt.
Lou VanGilder
Franklin Hoffman
Frank Hoffman / Owen Long / Derek Young / Lou VanGilder
December 24
Family Service / Barb Moyer, Capt.
Dani Erdley
Nancy Erdley
Caitlin Cunningham / Mike Erdley
December 24
Candlelight with Communion / Bob Berry / Judy Stuck
Lou VanGilder / Pat Propst / Mike Erdley, Capt.
Glen Weaver
Nick Auman
Mack Fleming / Brandon Deans / Trey Cunningham
Amanda Hite
Jacob Hite / Bob Berry
December 30
8:00 AM / Brenda Herbert
David Herbert / Carol Diehl
December 30
10:15 AM / Don Steele / Linda Bingaman
Mary Siemsen / Nick Auman
Blaine Shaffer / Carol Diehl / Lee Miller, Capt.
Ken Reigle
David Menges
Derek Menges / Kobe Swanger / Rachel Anderson / Harry Bingaman
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