Volume 94, Issue 12 June 11, 2014
The Rev. MarthaSue D. Moll, Intentional Interim Pastor
Cell phone: 570-850-9955 ~ email:
June 3, 2014
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Writing this letter is painful but I must share this information with you. As I have told you many times, I could stay until you had a new pastor, but if the Bishop needed me elsewhere, I would have to go. The Bishop has called. Pastor John Koons from Good Shepherd has retired after eighteen and one-half years in Berwick and that congregation is in somewhat the same place you were nearly two years ago.
I will end my ministry with you on July 15 and my last Sunday will be July 13.
From my perspective, you are in a better place than you were when I came. You have always been very gracious to me, which I sense is part of who you are. I value the friendly and welcoming worship experience. I love your developing responsiveness as you laugh more frequently at jokes and smile more “loudly” at delightful stories. That is a freeing experience. I cherish the interaction between the congregation and me during sermons. And I appreciate your embrace of prayer cards and cards to those who need a word from us.
Some of you are beginning to sense nudges from Holy Spirit and to respond. I am particularly delighted with the response to the call for lay home Communion visitors. We have three teams currently active and two more about to be trained. This is a very precious ministry which allows people to share faith in a new way as well as offering our homebound members a deeper connection to the congregation. I am also delighted with the progress of His Lighthouse Café.
When the call committee announced that they had dismissed the candidates and were asking for new ones, I saw that as a sign that they are willing to trust God to send the right person, not just the first ones interviewed, and able to be patient until that day arrives. They are working diligently and faithfully and take this work very seriously indeed.
I do not know how things will unfold for you, but I often think of the hymn “Lead Kindly Light.” My favorite line is “Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.” God has led you this far and will continue to lead, if you but listen. So keep praying and listening for God and then let God lead.
You will always be close to my heart because I have loved you and you have loved me. You will continue in my prayers.
In Christ’s name,
The Rev. MarthaSue D. Moll
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock.” These words are from a collection of Jesus’ sayings in Luke 12. They are often heard from angels who appear to humans, because angelic visitations are scary. Now we hear them from the lips of our Lord. Do not be afraid.
Fear, and its cousin anxiety, often attack us, especially when we are planning something newor when unwelcome change comes. Fear of the unknown, whether it is the future or just going to a new place is common: What will it be like? Will I be OK? What if….? What if….?
Many of you expressed dismay when I announced that I would be leaving in July. For some, it was fear, for others probably a sense of loss. And perhaps a few who were not sad. We were expecting that I would stay at St. John’s until a new pastor arrived, in spite of the fact that I reminded those who asked that my call is from the synod to help congregations in transition, and if another congregation needed me more than you, I would have to go .
We all have a tendency to avoid thinking about what we don’t want to happen. At Bible Study last week, I asked the group to plan their funeral service. Blessedly, most had already given it some thought, but many folks think that is weird or scary and don’t want to think about it. And so we avoided thinking that I might leave earlier than hoped. What’s going to happen to us now? Will we be okay?
In the immediate future, an interim pastor will be appointed. Not another Intentional Interim pastor, but one who will be available for Council meetings and emergency needs. Supply preachers will be provided. In the meantime, the call committee will continue to work diligently. They have been feeling the burden of their responsibility but now they are feeling even more pressure. Please keep them all in your prayers. And keep praying for the coming new pastor.
This will be a time to practice caring for one another in more intentional ways. When someone is missing from worship, take time to call and ask if that person is OK. rather than just wondering or asking one another. That kind of caring is really your responsibility as God’s people. Be sure to welcome guests who worship with us. Make a special effort to include newer members in activities. Organize a service event for September 7 or even a fun outing together. And don’t reject an idea just because it came from someone newer whom you don’t yet know.
You are the church. Yes, a pastor is needed to help you live into this truth. But you are God’s people in this place and can act together in serving and caring. Our new directory team came together without much help and is doing excellent work. This past Sunday was Pentecost, when we celebrate the gift of Holy Spirit, God’s presence in our lives. The Spirit makes God’s presence real to us and helps, guides, and encourages us to do what we sense God wants us to do. With God as our friend, how can we lose?
And God gives us hope. St. Paul wrote: “…hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) The foundation of hope is the promise of God, who loves us all unconditionally and wants our good. A new pastor will come in God’s time and you will rejoice.
God grant you hope, faith, and courage. God’s peace be with you all, my beloved. In Christ's love,
t Pastor Moll
Wednesday, June 11Church Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 12Social Ministry Committee, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, June 16WELCA picnic
Thursday, June 19Christian Ed/Evangelism, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, June 23 to
Thursday, June 26Vacation Bible School, 6-8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 26Lighthouse Café, 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Friday, June 27Vacation Bible School, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28Chicken Bar-b-q, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Friday and SaturdaySynod Assembly, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove
June 20 & 21
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 June 11, 2014 Volume 94, Issue 12
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
June 15, 2014
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Next Sunday at St. John’s
June 22, 2014
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
9:00 a.m. Adult 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
July 1
Sally Diehl
Audrey Seebold
July 2
Edward Fenstermacher
Brian Kearney
July 3
Robert Berry
T. Jarod Hendricks
July 4
Benjamin Meiser
July 6
Brandon Carper
Donald Seebold, Sr.
Dondalynn Snyder
Susan Stamm
July 7
JeneeHolub
Lisa Kohler
June Kreitzer
Susan Stevenson
July 8
Harold Wiand
July 9
Cynthia Paul
Kenneth Ulp
July 10
Jeffery Boyer
Justin Boyer
Lynzie Mull
Martha O’Malley
July 11
Rebecca Bowman
Braydon Lahr
July 13
Holden Coyle
Amy Doyle
Mackenzie Wolfe
July 14
Logan McAllister
Mason McAllister
July 16
Karen Smeltz
July 17
Arianna Barrera
James Benner
July 18
Mary Rogers
Stephanie Snyder
July 19
Thomas Hendricks
Nathan Kearney
Michelle Yoder
July 20
Gail Lehman
July 21
Steven Benfer
Isaiah Fetter
Corinne Lyons
Sue Ann Sees
Nicholas Veronick
July 22
Jennifer Haddon
Judy Hafer
Alyssa Hamor
Laura Sue Zeigler
July 23
Benjamin Amerman
Sandra Saxman
Daniel Young
July 24
Stephanie Fetter
Kenneth Reigle
July 25
Constance Arter-Davis
Judy Bickel
July 26
Cole Bowman
Debra Doebler
Thomas Hamor
Stephen Reed
July 27
Rebekah Amerman
Rebecca Hare
Daniel Lehman
Kimberlee Neitz
Douglas Ray
July 28
Ashley Daddario
David Heckert
Thomas Stuck
Hayden Volinski
July 29
Charles Bartholomew, III
Angela Fasold
TrentonKoons
Rose Mertz
Brian Shaffer
July 30
Abigail Brouse
July 31
Ryan Eisely
Sharon Fleming
Albert Whitecavage
Service Assistants for July 2014
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Crucifer/Acolyte / Sound
System
July 6
8:00 AM / Sue Billman
Bill Troutman / Mary Rogers
July 6
10:15 AM / Betty Duncan / Teresa & Lee Miller / Barb Moyer
Lou VanGilder / Mary Rogers / Bob Berry
Maryann Berry
Bonnie Berry
Mike McWilliams / Ryan Latsha / Rachel Anderson
July 13
8:00 AM / Brenda & David
Herbert / Lori Bogovich
July 13
10:15 AM / Mike Erdley / Carolyn Smith
Jan Albertson / Nancy & Mike Erdley / Lori Bogovich / Lee Miller
Ken Reigle
Dave Menges
Derek Menges / Rachel Anderson / Bob Berry
July 20
8:00 AM / Pat & Tom Propst / Mary Siemsen
July 20
10:15 AM / Blaine Shaffer / Virginia Butler
Trish Long / Blaine Shaffer
Dean Siemsen / Mary Siemsen / Doug Manning
Lou VanGilder
Franklin Hoffman
Frank Hoffman / Derek Young / Mike Erdley
July 27
8:00 AM / Judy Dunkelberger
Jamie Feaster / Pat Propst
July 27
10:15 AM / Caitlin Cunningham / Pat & Tom Propst / Trey Cunningham
Caitlin Cunningham / Pat Propst / Mike Erdley
Mack Gleming
Glen Weaver / Brandon Deans / Lou VanGilder
JULY 2014
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
/ June 30
Pineknotter Cake Wheel
6-8:00 p.m.
8-10:00 p.m. / 1
/ 2
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 3
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Worship & Music 7:00 p.m.
Scout Dist. Comm. 7:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m.
PineknotterBingo 6-8:00 p.m.
8-10:00 p.m. / 4 Independence
Day
OFFICE CLOSED / 5
6
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Ladies Choir Rehearsal 9:30 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 7
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m. / 8
WebelosBoy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
/ 9
Messenger Folding 9:30 a.m.
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 10
Social Ministry 6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 11 / 12
13
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Pastor Moll’s last Sunday preaching at St. John’s / 14
TOPS 6:00 p.m. / 15
WebelosBoy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
/ 16
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 17
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Christian Ed/Evang 7:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable 7:00 p.m. AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 18 / 19
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:00 a.m.
20
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 21
TOPS 6:00 p.m. / 22
WebelosBoy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
/ 23
Messenger Folding 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 24
Lighthouse Café 4:30-6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 25 / 26
27
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m. / 28
TOPS 6:00 p.m. / 29
WebelosBoy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
/ 30
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 31
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m.