HOLY WEEK SERVICES at ST. JAMES. All are invited to join with us for our Wednesday Mid-week Lenten Soup Supper and Worship. Come for one or both!

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1 St. James Lutheran Church 9:00 A.M. Worship Service 10:30 A.M. Sunday School The Rev. Darcy M. Reis, Pastor =============================================== March, 2018 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, A few months ago, the arrival of the season of spring and its colorful spring blossoms were but faraway hopes that helped ease the prickliness of a boisterous- one temperature extreme to the other- winter too obstinate to budge from our midst. According to the calendar on my wall and the local weather people, the season of spring arrives on March 20, 2018!! Spring is arriving, and with it the season of Lent which guides us to Palm Sunday, when congregations world-wide wave Palm leaves and celebrate our Lord Jesus entrance into Jerusalem-where the reality of God s triumph over the power of sin and death starts to ease in to our souls. The reality of Holy week the end of this month thus takes hold of our consciousness as we focus on the events of Maundy Thursday, when the season of Lent comes to an end and we learn from Jesus how to love and care for one another and follow his example of how to live our lives. And what are we to make of Good Friday, a day when we center our attention on the death of our Lord? What makes God s death good? It is good because what happens on the cross -- Jesus death, -- puts the power of sin and death over humanity to death once and for all.. and though we leave the sanctuary under the shadow of darkness, our hope is alive and well because we have the promise that Christ s light and God s love does prevail. During the Vigil of Easter (usually celebrated on Easter Eve or just before dawn on Easter day), when that light returns and Christ s resurrection is proclaimed, we are empowered to go out into the world and share the good news!

2 April 1 st, Easter Day, we join with all Christians and celebrate the newness of life we receive because of Christ s resurrection, filled with hope and wonderment at all the blessings we enjoy, freely given to us from a generous and most gracious God who overcame the power of sin and death that once had hold of us. And the day we have been hoping and longing for has come once again. for our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the festival, not with old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) In Christ, Pastor Reis ============================== All are invited to join with us for our Wednesday Mid-week Lenten Soup Supper and Worship. Come for one or both! Worship and Music Committee would like to provide a light meal of soup prior to the Wednesday evening mid-week Lenten Services. If anyone is interested in contributing to the meal, please see Anita Ashton or a member of the Worship & Music Comm THIS YEAR S Mid-Week Lenten Worship Series Based on Max Lucado s book He Chose the Nails: What God Did to Win Your Heart Wednesday evenings: February 21 st - March 21 st Soup supper 6:30 p.m. / Worship 7:00 p.m. HOLY WEEK SERVICES at ST. JAMES March 25 9:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship/Communion 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for ALL 6:00 p.m. Celtic Music & Worship Refresh Your Routine! Try Celtic Music & Worship. Join us for an informal Sunday evening service in the sanctuary at 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 25. This unique service draws on the rich Celtic spiritual and musical tradition. The service will feature beautiful music by a Celtic pick-up band, led by members of Cantor Folkemer s Cormorant s Fancy band. The band is open to all interested players and will gather at 5:00 PM. The service will include Holy Communion and is quiet and meditative in nature. Included will be a brief, informal opening of the scriptures by Pastor Reis. A reception will follow. March 29 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday Holy Communion and Stripping of the Altar March 30 12:00 3:00 p.m. Good Friday Prayer Vigil 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Worship Service =============================================== THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD April 1, :00 AM FESTIVAL WORSHIP SERVICE WITH HOLY COMMUNION No Sunday School

3 FROM THE CHOIR LOFT: Music Ministry Opportunities ADULT CHOIR The Adult Choir is always looking for new people who love to sing and join in a warm, welcoming and mutually supportive group! The Adult choir welcomes everyone from 9th grade into their 90 s! The Adult Choir serves the congregation in its weekly worship through hymn and liturgical song support as well as providing musical offerings that reinforce and expand the congregation s hearing of the Word. The Adult Choir rehearses Thursdays beginning at 7:00 PM. WOMEN S CHOIR. The Women s Choir welcomes all women from 9th grade up through adult. Singers do NOT have to be members of the Adult Choir to participate. The Women s Choir meets every FIRST Thursday of the month from 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM. MEN S CHOIR The Men's Choir welcomes all men from 9th grade up through adult. Singers do NOT have to be members of the Adult Choir to participate. The Men's Choir meets every SECOND Thursday of the month from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. CHILDREN S CHOIR The Children s Choir is for all children in grades K through 5 and meets every Sunday from 10:30 AM to about 10:40 AM. Sunday School follows until 11:30 AM. IINSTRUMENTALISTS are sought for playing for hymns, songs, special liturgies and other occasions. Please contact Cantor Stephen Folkemer at sfolkemer@uls.edu or through the church office. +CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Sunday School for ALL continues on Sundays, at 10:30 a.m. Nursery through age 11 children will meet in their regular Sunday School Room. Youth, age 12 and older and confirmands are invited to meet with Pastor Reis in the Youth Room during the Sunday School hour to discuss how the Bible relates to current events LENTEN BIBLE STUDY continues on Wednesday, March 7 th, 14 th, 21st, and 28 th at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to join with us in the parlor. Hope to see you there CONFIRMANDS - CONFIRMATION CLASS Sunday, March 11 th - 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Union Lutheran Social Hour Hosts Please help us continue this ENJOYABLE SOCIAL TIME by signing up to host schedule is now posted for volunteers to sign-up. See Anita Ashton for additional details if needed

4 UPCOMING SUNSHINE WORKERS EVENTS: GROUP NEWS ST. JAMES SENIOR MEMBERS will meet on Thursday, March 1 st at 11:30 a.m. in the social room. Bring your own sandwich, dessert and beverage will be provided. Afternoon entertainment will be presented by Memory Music. All are welcome, please come out and join with us. ======================== FROM SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE: Next Ham & Cheese Sandwich Sale, Wednesday, March 14 th Orders due March 4 th. SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE invites you to participate in their 2018 Lenten project that began on the 1 st Sunday in Lent and will continue until Palm Sunday, March 25 th. The goal for the project is 40 BASKETS OF PROMISE /HEALTH KITS. This year the towels have been purchased by the committee and combs have been donated. We are encouraging members to donate the following items to complete the kits: 1 - packaged adult toothbrush oz. wrapped bar of soap 1 - packaged adult nail clipper Please put your donations in the marked box on the pool table in the social room. ========== Class Meeting Monday, March 5th 12 Noon Social Room Class Breakfast at Panera Thursday, March 8 th 8:30 a.m. SUNSHINE WORKERS continue to sell Weis & Giant Grocery Gift cards each week in the social room during coffee social time. Please stop by and purchase a card or two to use for your weekly groceries, prescriptions or gas purchases. ======================== BREAKFAST BLESSINGS Saturday, April 7 th - 8:00-9:30 a.m. Thank you to everyone for their continued support. Thank you to Weis Market for their partnership and to the Sunshine workers for their yearly sausage donation. Our community outreach breakfast continues to grow each month. For the April breakfast we are in need of the following March 4th-10th Body Wash March 11th-17th Men and Woman's Deodorant March 18th-24th Toothbrushes and toothpaste March 25th-31 st Pop tarts and individual snack items April 1st-7th Deodorant Thank you and God Bless, Breakfast Blessings ================== THE PEACEMAKERS Quilt making for Lutheran World Relief Wednesday, March 14 th 3:00-6:00 p.m. Social Room Please contact Sue Martin for additional details. =================

5 FROM HOSPITALITY/EVANGELISM COMMITTEE: The Committee will be hosting a Mystery Dinner/Game Night, 5-8PM on Saturday, March 17 th. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Watch for more details. Hospitality/Evangelism Committee is also planning a progressive picnic for the congregation in August and would like 3 families to host. See Cindy Rutkowski or Linda Kern if interested in being a host or if you have questions Advent Lutheran Church invites you to IRISH NIGHT Featuring Cormorant s Fancy (St. James Cantor Stephen Folkemer s Band) and York s NiRian School of Irish Dance Sunday, March 18, :00-8:00 p.m. In the new fellowship hall, 1775 E. Market St. Come enjoy music, dance and a host of Irish foods. Program supported by friends of Advent Church and a free-will offering. UPCOMING BUS TRIPS: FOLLOWING TRIPS SPONSORED BY SUNSHINE WORKERS: Tuesday, April 3, 2018 Bird-In-Hand Restaurant & Stage The Home Game A Son s Journey, A Father s Hope - $75. Wednesday, May 16, 2018 American Music Theater/Yoder s Songs of the Silver Screen - $65 Wednesday, June 27, Sight & Sound Theater/Golden Corral JESUS (Adults - $87, Children (3-12) $54 Thursday, August 2, 2018 Dutch Apple Dinner Theater Wizard of Oz (Adults - $74, Children 12 & under - $45) For additional details and reservations for any of the above trips please contact Rosemary Rafferty, 1660 North Drive, Phone or Overnight trip flyers posted at Adams Street entrance. Ark Encounter & Creation Museum July 23-27, 2018 A Capital Christmas in D. C. Dec. 7-9, 2018 ================= A Spring bus trip being sponsored by Advent Lutheran Church BLOSSOM SEASON IN APPLE COUNTRY Saturday, April 28 th - Morning til Early Evening The end of April is a very pretty time in Pennsylvania s fruit country, Upper Adams County. Join us for an enjoyable day in apple country that will include: National Apple Museum, orchard tour, visits to the churches of Bendersville Lutheran Parish (where Pr. Biles (Advent s Interim Pastor) served ), worship at Upper Temple outdoor chapel in Camp Nawakwa, shopping at the Hollabaugh Country Market, and on the way back a visit to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Spring Grove and dinner at Buon Appetito Italian Restaurant. Cost: $20.00 per person for bus & museum. Bring a bag lunch or snack; dinner cost is on your own. (Please note this trip will be on a school bus not a coach) Contact Advent Lutheran Church to sign-up.

6 PLANNING MEETING Monday, March 19, :00 P.M. All picnic committee members and anyone interested in helping to plan the picnic are invited to attend Picnic will be held on Sunday, June 3, at Sunset Lane Park, Shiloh ============================================ COMMUNITY NEWS from Penn State Health On Saturday, March 10, 2018, the Penn State Cancer Institute, is holding an educational program for the general public on the latest information related to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of common cancers. The program is free to participants. Enrollment is limited and preregistration is required. Brochures are available on the church pamphlet rack. Additional brochures and on-line registration forms are posted on the website: Phone contact for addl. information WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ST. JAMES MARCH bulletin board news to be provided by Church Council ======================================= M.O.M s Ministry of Meals A ministry for those returning home from the hospital, rehab, outpatient surgery, etc., or have had a death in the family, or birth of a new baby, etc. Anyone experiencing any of the above or other illnesses and in need of having a meal provided is asked to please call the church office, , or Barb Rhodes Our Lord says, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, [Matthew 5:4], we join in prayer and mourning for the loss of: Joann L. Urey 12/22/2017 William L. Meals, Jr. 2/5/2018 We keep their loved ones, family, and friends in our prayers and ask that members please update your congregational directories. =========== THANK YOU NOTES as received: Dear Social Ministry Committee, Thank you for your generous donation in memory of sweet Joann. We will forever miss her. Emilee & family feel very honored. All our Love, The Heilmans Dear Pastor Reis and St. James, We would like to thank Pastor Reis for her love, compassion, and many visits during dad s declining health and passing. We would like to thank her for her guidance and kind words she shared for dad s funeral and we would also like to thank Stephen Folkemer and the choir for the beautiful music and vocal support during the service. We would also like to thank everyone for the kind words of support during the visitation and many cards during this difficult time, they certainly brought comfort to us. Thank you also to the people who helped prepare the luncheon after the service. Many, many, thanks to all! Peg Funkhouser and family & Bill Meals and family ================ When you find yourself in the hospital either unexpectedly or for a planned stay, please let us know by contacting Pastor Reis at the church office at , or Council President, Leah Strathmeyer at To ensure that you will receive pastoral care while in the hospital, please inform the church office, the Pastor, or Leah.

7 TREASURER S REPORT January 2018 Actual Year to Date Current Receipts $12,522 $12,522 Current Expenses $16,306 $16,306 [$ 3,784] [$ 3,784] (Current receipts DO NOT include Building Fund Receipts) Current Benevolence Receipts $ 530 $ 530 ELCA Disaster Fund Receipts $ 100 $ 100 Current Benevolence Disbursements $ 630 $ 630 ============================================ Nickels the Lamb 2018 receipts will be given to Wellspan Cancer Patient Help Fund A SPECIAL LENTEN OFFERING ENVELOPE was included in the February newsletter. Please use this envelope for your LENTEN offering that will be distributed to the Cancer Care Patient Fund. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MARCH 2018 Mar. 01 Mar. 05 Mar. 07 Mar. 10 Mar. 11 Mar. 11 Mar. 12 Mar. 14 Mar. 15 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 26 Mar. 28 Mar. 31 Sandra Markle Tyra Robinson Samuel Burns Deborah Rinehart Barbara A. Densel Brian Funkhouser, Margaret (Peggy) Funkhouser Teresa Deaner Nancy Laird David Smith Scott Stock Ann Hied Christine Sheffer Colton & Garrett Rafferty Glenn Sheffer Trey Hess ==================== LUTHERAN NATIVE AMERICANS During the Lenten season our eyes are focused on the cross. There are a variety of designs for the cross. The Christian Native Americans design has the ends of the two beams feathered. The vertical north beam is

8 white, the vertical south beam is painted black, looking at the cross the crossbeam is painted red on the left and yellow on the right. Why? They want all to know Christ died for the sins of everyone. Remember, only about 5% of Native Americans are Christian, within a population of more than 5 million. In the year 2017 there were 9 baptisms, 1 ordination, 6 confirmations, 150 volunteers traveling to 16 Native communities for Vacation Bible School and servant events. Over 1,675 pairs of gloves and mittens were distributed to 5 different Indian reservations on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington. Immediately following the worship service. Sole purpose of the meeting is to approve Expenditure of funds for exterior painting and Structural repairs to rental properties. ============================================ A staff member was added and placed in Phoenix, AZ. This city has the 3 rd largest number of Native people in our nation. In a recent newsletter, Tim Eagle, (Pawnee) Executive Director wrote: It was Captain Richard H. Pratt, in 1879, who first uttered the phrase: Kill the Indian, Save the Man. This mantra became the justification for the assimilation methods used at Carlisle Indian Industrial School, a school my grandfather briefly attended, and others throughout the United States and Canada. The majority of these schools were run by churches, but the unconditional love of Christ was overshadowed by man s sinful way. My ancestors were taught God Doesn t love Indian savages. Before He would accept us, we first had to reject who we were and become like the white man. Stripped of all we knew, how could the message of God s love through Jesus Christ ever be heard? Generations later, my Native people still struggle to understand they are loved by God unconditionally. Please pray for the staff and the work they are doing to share the love of Christ. More information can be located at LutheranIndianMinistries.org. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR AN UPCOMING SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Sunday, March 18, 2018