The Revelations of Saint John s

Transcription

1 The Revelations of Saint John s June 2013 St. John Lutheran Church Skippack Pike, Centre Square, PA Sunday Church School News In May, the Sunday School enjoyed a special presentation by Pastor Bell. We learned about the seasons of the church year and the colors associated with those seasons. Pastor Bell brought her stoles so we could see the colors, and she explained the symbols on each stole. She also taught us a simple rhyme to help us remember the liturgical seasons. Pastor Bell visited with us the Sunday before Pentecost, so it was fresh in our minds that the color of Pentecost is red. And red we were! We waved red tongues of fire streamers during our sing-a-long, and we celebrated with red velvet cupcakes. June 9 will be our last day of Sunday School before summer break. We re planning a fun morning that the kids won t want to miss! It will also be a time to recognize the teachers and staff Patti Whitcomb, Alex Huss, Carol Gorman, Joy McCabe, Patti Dietrich, Judy Dempsey, Janet McCurdy, Jess Brunner, Justin Kiefski, Jacqui DiDomenico, and Polly Schneider for a job well done. All friends and members of St. John s are welcome to join us at 9:15 that morning to thank the team for their dedication and hard work. Anne Dobbins, Superintendent Summer Worship Schedule After much thought, the Worship and Music Committee has recommended to Council that we have a single worship service this Summer at 9:30 a.m,, and Council has approved. The Single Service Schedule will begin on June 16 th and continue through Labor Day.

2 Re-inventing Vacation Bible School If you re interested in taking part in creating a VBS experience for our kids this summer, please contact Vicki Ochocki as soon as possible ( or vickio1125@aol.com) We re going to consider a number of different approaches, including a once-a-week schedule, or even a single day event, all ideas welcome! Do you know of a homebound or ill member who would like a pastoral visit, or special prayers during Sunday Service? Contact Pr. Bell at the church office, , or via at marciagbell@comcast.net. Fellow St. John Members, Oktoberfest Planning Oktoberfest at St John has been a tradition for nearly 30 years. It originally started as a craft sale, with all the goods made by our parishioners. this evolved into the flea market and pork supper that we have all known for the past many years. In past years, at the pork supper, we have had lines of people waiting, at times, over an hour just to get a seat. That was 10 years ago. Recently, we have had a much lower attendance. Last year we did away with the pork supper all together and focused, instead, on the flea market and our Brauhaus Cafe lunch. Our Oktoberfest has a few purposes. First, to raise money to put towards the mortgage fund. Second, and possibly even more important, is to provide an opportunity for fellowship between church members and our surrounding community. Oktoberfest has been one of the few times each year, not involving a church service, that we open wide the doors of the church and invite anyone and everyone in and thus has been a great opportunity for us to reach out to our community at large. Third, by virtue of being a practicing Lutheran, you have some German heritage. Oktoberfest is a celebration of that German heritage. There is a lot of tradition and history that can be taught and learned through good food and great fellowship. Just as everyone is Irish on St. Patty s Day, all are German during Oktoberfest. In recent years, attendance, especially from our own congregation, has been very low, compared to years past. October is right smack dab in the middle of soccer and football season, and finding the time to fit in a Saturday trip to church for dinner is increasingly hard. If this is an event we,

3 as a congregation, would like to continue, we need to figure out a way to get more people to come out. I believe that this has to start with us, as a group first. That is the reason for this letter. I am asking for ideas, any ideas really, that may help us continue this fun tradition, but make it more profitable and better attended. Oktoberfest doesn't have to be the same event that it has always been. Maybe the time for flea markets and country dinners has come and gone, but I need help coming up with ideas that are updated and appeal to more congregation members and community members at the same time. There will be a meeting on June 19th in LL10. If you are available and can contribute an idea or two, please try to attend. If you can t make it, but would like to help out, you can me at mskiefski@comcast.net. If there is no interest in planning the event, we will most likely have to cancel it. It may just be time, but that is not a decision I wish to make alone. Thank you so much for your time, Megan Kiefski St. John s Nursery School St. John s Nursery School has had a fun and busy spring! As many of you know, the children of St. John s rode the school s fleet of tricycles in the fundraiser Pedal for Police. The course was an eighth of a mile loop around the church parking lot. Many students completed up to 2 miles during their hour of pedaling! Thanks to all of the families, friends, and church members who sponsored riders helping to raise $3, which was donated to The Fox Children s Fund in honor of fallen officer, Brad Fox.

4 Our school has been bursting with spring. The children made flowers, bugs, and kites to decorate their classrooms and hallways. They learned many ways to help the earth including planting seeds, watching them grow and practicing how to reduce, reuse and recycle! The children celebrated their mothers by making wonderful gifts. Pre K had a special visitor, Carol Allen, who taught the children woodworking. She worked alongside each child, helping them to create beautiful pieces! The year ended in celebration, with singing programs for all to enjoy. The children all sang with heart and pride. Their joy was contagious, leaving everyone a bit more lighthearted and cheerful! We look forward to our students returning in the fall and wish the best of everything to all those moving on! Have a safe and happy summer! Dear Friends, From Pastor Bell We have a new group here at St. John s who will soon begin some very important work. The group is called the Transition Team, and in the coming months they will be leading the congregation through the process of preparing to call your next pastor. The Transition Team was appointed by the Congregation Council and includes the following persons: Anne Dobbins Larry Guenzel Joan Linton Sue Lorenski Melanie Mitchell Cheryl Posen Barbara Speece Barry Stock Carol Weidler

5 One of the first tasks of the team will be to plan three congregational events for next fall. You will be hearing lots more about these gatherings in the days and weeks ahead. The team will also be working with me to accomplish the Five Developmental Tasks that have been identified by our synod as goals of the interim period. They include: Coming to Terms with History Examining Leadership and Organizational Needs Rethinking Lutheran Linkages Developing Identity and Vision Commitment to New Leadership I want to clarify that the Transition Team is different than the Call Committee. Council will appoint the Call Committee in the fall. They will have the responsibility of interviewing potential candidates to serve as the next pastor of St. John s. Please don t hesitate to ask questions about the process. It will, no doubt, be a busy and productive time here. And most important, please keep your congregation and leaders in your prayers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to guide and encourage the ministry of St. John s, just as the Spirit has since 1769! With gratitude for the privilege to serve, Pastor Marcia Bell, Interim Pastor Dear friends, Lutheran Disaster Response And Midwest Tornadoes These last few days we've seen the pictures and heard the stories surrounding the devastating tornadoes in OK and surrounding areas. It is only natural that we should want to respond with compassion and kindness! The national Lutheran Disaster Response staff have been in contact with folks in the area and have set up structures for donating to this disaster. Check out to find updated information, bulletin inserts, prayer resources and donation instructions. Please note that at this time, donations of things other than funds create problems for the immediate response that is not set up to receive or distribute such donations. Volunteers who are not already affiliated with first-response organizations are currently being asked to stay out of the area to allow search and rescue to continue unimpeded.

6 As the local LDR affiliate, we will share news and information about needs and volunteer opportunities as we find out. In the meantime, visit our blog page (link below) to learn what to do now, what to look forward to and how to best prepare ourselves for future disasters (Hurricane Season starts in a little over a week for us on the east coast!) In Christ, Jennifer The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Phelps Ollikainen Director for Ministries, Lutheran Congregational Services (cell) The Historic St. John s Cemetery Thanks You We have had a wonderful response for our first-ever special offering for Cemetery care, with over $ donated. We have allocated some funds for professional repairs to headstones, to take place this year, and three persons have sponsored decorative trees. Earlier in the spring, 30+ boys from Scout Troop 98 spent several hours spreading topsoil to fill in the many dips and low spots, and re-seeding took place as well. Given decent weather and sufficient rain, we should see a much greener, leveler cemetery come fall. Cemetery Offering envelopes will continue to be available in the Great Room throughout the year. A very special Thank You should go to all the hardy souls who have been pitching in with mowing, trimming and pruning, even a little bit makes a big difference, so Danke schoen to you all! Habitat in Hatfield The Montgomery County chapters of Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are partnering this summer and fall to build two homes in the borough of Hatfield. The groundbreaking event was held in May and the wall-raising day is scheduled for June 29 th. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to join with 25 other Lutheran congregations across the county in support of the Habitat mission of providing adequate housing for all persons. Thrivent is Habitat s largest partner across the country and around the world. Over the past eight years, the two organizations have helped over 3,000 families realize their dream to build and own a

7 decent and affordable home. The Thrivent and Habitat national organizations are providing 90% of the funding for the two homes in Hatfield we in the Lutheran community are being asked to raise the final 10% - $32,000. There are two ways you can help. See the signup sheet in the Great Room (or contact me at or daveo612@aol.com) if you are interested in volunteering at the construction site. St. John s will be assigned two days (8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) where we will provide volunteer workers; dates will be announced soon. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Training will be provided at the site. Secondly, financial support is needed to make the project a reality. Special offering envelopes are available in the Great Room and can be placed in the offering plate. Checks should be made out to St. John s. To support the construction schedule our contributions are needed by June 23 rd. I hope you ll join me in this exciting mission! Dave Ochocki Council Highlights Pastor's Report One service of worship at 9:30 AM for duration of summer, beginning June 16 Pastor has been visiting with homebound members Treasurer's Report Current fund expenses now about 5% under budget year to date Donations will be sought from congregation for Sekomu University in Tanzania Cemetery A $50 permit fee for monument installation companies to ensure correct foundation is being installed will be implemented Tree donation program being developed Christian Education Nursery School Board will meet with bookkeeper candidate; Jon Ganser, Audit Committee working with school to incorporate QuickBooks usage Youth Group - Six youth are signed up for Helping Hands Day on Saturday, 4/27 Finance Jon Ganser will present results of audit during May Council meeting

8 Property Parsonage painting done; carpeting cleaned and new carpet installed Social Ministry Letters of thanks for donations received from Mural Arts Program and Emmanuel Lutheran Worship and Music - Pastor Bell Postcard for upcoming St John Arts concert on 5/05 distributed Head usher issue to be addressed at next committee meeting Wedding/Funeral plan being developed Old Business Katie Myers shared her research on developing a new church website. This website work is a subset of Evangelism and Communications committee. Pastor Bell continued discussion of Transitional Committee, with goal of starting up in May. Lutheran Charities Steeplechase Bike Ride and Fun Walk & Ride Saturday, June 22, 2013 This annual event benefits the Social Ministry Agencies of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. It includes a SteepleChase Bike Ride on roads through Montgomery and Chester counties and a Fun Ride & Walk on the Perkiomen and Schuylkill River trails. Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in Audubon will again host registration and lunch for riders, walkers, and volunteers. Last year, 150 people biked, walked, and volunteered. JOIN US in 2013!

9 The agencies benefiting from the ride include Artman Lutheran Home, KenCrest Centers, Lutheran Children & Family Service, Lutheran Settlement House, Manatawny Manor, Mary J. Drexel Home, Paul s Run Retirement Community, Silver Springs-Martin Luther School, and the Southeastern PA Synod. For more information, call Carol Hammarberg at Lutheran Charities: (610) x 1123 or chammarberg@kencrest.org. This is a fun event, goes through some beautiful countryside, and benefits our very worthwhile Lutheran social agencies in SE PA. Please support us! Tom and Susan MacPherson, missionaries in Tanzania, have agreed to serve at the Irente Children's Home for a third year through the fall of As selffunded lay missionaries, they rely on support from individuals and churches to carry out their work at Irente. You and your congregation can help fund this important work. Help Support MacPherson Mission for Third Year The Irente Children's Home, a mission of the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, cares for babies and toddlers who have lost their parents or whose families are too destitute to raise them. The MacPhersons, members of St. John's, Mayfair, were commissioned by the Synod for this service in To find out more about their experiences, please read their blog at

10 2013 Ryan Weidler Memorial Golf Outing At Center Square Golf Club Please join us Monday, July 22, 2013, for golf, wine & beer, dinner, & fun... supporting research for Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) and ALS. Registration starting at 10AM Shotgun Start at 11AM Casual buffet served following golf & ending by 6:30: P.J. Whelihan's, 799 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA Cost (payable to Ryan Weidler Memorial Fund) $1000 for Golf Sponsorship (includes acknowledgment at hole, 4some, & buffet) $750 for Hole Sponsorship (includes acknowledgment at hole, 2some, & buffet) $500 for Clubhouse Sponsorship (includes acknowledgment at hole & 2 for buffet) $125 per Golfer (includes breakfast, greens fees, & buffet) *Discounted rate of $460 if you register as a 4some* $50 per Non Golfer (includes buffet at PJ Whelihans) RSVP BY July 13 Raindate July 29th If you are unable to attend but would like to make a tax deductible donation-you can either make a credit card payment to SADS in Ryan's name or send a check. Log onto: Weidler?donate=yes&honorOf=Ryan%20Weidler OR Send a check payable to Ryan Weidler Memorial Fund to: Ryan Weidler Memorial Fund, PO Box 102, Worcester, PA 19490