The Eagle. Vicar s corner. January, 2019 New Series Volume XXXXIV, No 1, 2019 Publish monthly submission to ST. JOHN S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 The Eagle Vicar s corner Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer Romans 12:12 January, 2019 New Series Volume XXXXIV, No 1, 2019 Publish monthly submission to stjohnseastonnewsletter@gmail.com ST. JOHN S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH a reconciling in Christ congregation 330 Ferry Street Easton, PA The Reverend Susan D. Ruggles, Pastor M. Danielle Bosdell, Vicar Karla Lake, Director of Music phone: stjohnseaston@gmail.com website: stjohnseaston.org stjohnseastonnewsletter@gmail.com New Year, New ME! I m sure all of us are familiar with this phrase right around this time of year. After we have just spent the holidays giving and receiving gifts, and eating our fill of sugary treats; we are encouraged to create New Year s resolutions. These New Year s resolutions are to help us look at the last year and see if there are habits we want to kick for the New Year. Often times they can involve being more cautious about what we eat, or maybe watching less TV, or being more present in our relationships. There is a myriad of possibilities. Many of us will participate in the creating of the New Year s Resolutions, but how many of us will stick with them? I know that I am guilty of not following through with any of the resolutions I create. Life can get in the way very easily. However, we should not beat ourselves up. Who is counting anyway? We can always start over. This is what God teaches us. Most importantly, we can always start over with God. Through our baptism, we are made new. Each morning that we wake up we are rising again with Christ through the power of faith in God. Let us find hope that we are loved by God that is always renewing us. While it is good to reflect and reform ourselves, we should be gracious and merciful with ourselves when we fail, because it will happen. The good news is God loves us in spite of our failings. Therefore as we ponder what we want to change for 2019, let us be reminded of the hope that is given to us by our faith in God who is always making us new. As we learned in Advent, God is always at work in us and in the world, refreshing, redeeming, re-energizing, and reinventing. Instead of worrying about the things we need to change, let us be patient with ourselves and persevere in prayer for guidance of God s will in our lives. - Vicar Danielle

2 This is what our database has listed for Birthdays and Anniversaries. Please notify us if something is missing! 1/2 Jahsai Mack 1/8 Helen Fritzo 1/7 Terri Horinko 1/13 Kiana Rabuck 1/15 Anne Fritchman 1/17 Wayne Docker 1/19 Kathryn Kessler Keyara Rabuck 1/20 Louise Ward 1/22 Monica Weiss-Nolen 1/23 Karl VanLang 1/25 Danielle Howey 1/28 Allison Cressman Last October, you heard from Melissa Dean, office staff. Now here is a brief note from Tyler, property manager. Hello Everyone! I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for a wonderful I am beyond blessed to serve St. John's Church. Great progress has been made on many fronts. Exciting improvements are in the works for I look forward to provide continued service to this church family. If any of you ever have questions, suggestions or just want to say hello please feel free to me at stjohnspropertyferry@gmail.com or leave a message in my mailbox by the office. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Cheers, Tyler VanAllen WORSHIP ASSISTANTS for January 10:30 AM January Altar Guild: Joyce Petty, Louise Nuttal Fellowship Hour: Membership Committee Jan. 6 Epiphany Sunday Aaron Howey Wayne Docker & Phyllis Schurz Xorship Assistant: Roger Ruggles MariAn Olson Communion Assistants: Robert Smith and Victor Unks Gallery Attendants: CLOSED Jan. 13 Baptism of our Lord Guest preacher: the Reverend Tom Neel Jahsai Mack Shirley Kressler & Victor Unks Worship Assistant: Steve Moyer Cindy Black Communion Assistants: Barb & Les McCoy Gallery Attendants: Fine Arts Committee Jan. 20 Epiphany 2 Jonas Orange Patsy Woodson & Loretta Heck Worship Assistant: Jim Heck Robert Smith Communion Assistants: Steve & Caroline Moyer Gallery Attendants: Chris Swan & Ruth Thomas Jan. 27 Epiphany 3 Logan Weber Robert Smith & Jake Ruggles Worship Assistant: Victor Unks Lynn Kutch Communion Assistants: Sue Glenn & Chris Orem Gallery Attendants: Carol Faulkner & Rhemy Golab Reminder-the church office is closed Jan. 1.

3 Liturgical colors and Gospel readings The Magi received the glory of God revealed and many others did on the banks of the Jordan through the baptism of Jesus. One way Jesus was made real in the eyes of many was through miracles. The message of Christ revealed and the emphasis during Epiphany of Christ s kingdom through missions calls for the use of the color green-the symbol of growth. Jan. 6 The Epiphany of our Lord-FESTIVAL SUNDAY Color white Gospel reading Matthew 2: 1-12 Jan. 13 Baptism of Our Lord-FESTIVAL SUNDAY Color-white Gospel reading-luke 3:15-17, Jan. 20 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Color-Green Gospel Reading-John 2:1-11 Jan. 27 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Color-Green Gospel Reading-Luke 4:14-21 SNOW? If it snows on a Sunday, the Worship at St. John s will not be cancelled. If you can walk, join us. If you do not feel safe driving, please stay home and join us with your prayers knowing we are still worshiping and praising God together. For your info Karla Lake will be on leave until sometime in March for a minor health issue (her words). Please welcome Bill Humphries and Rich Spotts as they fill in for her! We encourage you to mail Karla miss you cards!

4 FROM THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE PROJECT FOOD PANTRY: St. John s the Rice Church any type of rice. Other items needed: Instant Potatoes Hamburger Helper Condiments Low sodium soups and stews Jelly and Preserves Canned vegetables Lunchbox sized items Personal Care Items (Soap, Shampoo/conditioner/deodorant, Feminine hygiene products) SAFE HARBOR: Sugar, pancake mix/syrup, ice tea mix, paper cups (8oz. hot and cold), paper napkins, heavy-duty paper plates (10 to 12 inch), paper towels, plastic silverware, air freshener sprays, laundry detergent, boxes of tissues, plastic grocery bags, backpacks and duffle bags (used, in good condition), Men s T-shirts (size L, XL, 2XL, 3XL), white copy paper. BACK PACK BUDDIES PROGRAM We continue to collect ravioli or canned pastas (individual size or large cans) and individual servings of macaroni & cheese with pop up lids, throughout the school year. MEALS ON WHEELS of Northampton County: Meals on Wheels have clients in need of: lap robes, scarfs, gloves, stamps, woolen hats, stationary, socks and toiletries, such as lotions and other items. We continue to collect donations of NEW packaged socks and underwear for adults and children. These donations will be given to Safe Harbor Easton and to Family Connections.

5 Reconciling Sunday at St. John s January 29, 2018 In 1974, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation began a journey that was radical for its time: invite those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community to our churches and welcome them as they are. Until this time, most LGBTQ people were either rejected from their churches or told they must conceal -- and even reject -- their sexual orientation in order to be part of God s family. With Reconciling Works, Lutherans turned this idea on its head and reached out to the LGBTQ community with the full measure of the gospel, saying God loves you and Jesus died for you! Today, St. John s and more than 800 other Lutheran congregations have become reconciling churches as part of the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program. RIC congregations assert that: We believe that God values and embraces each person as a beloved child, that the Spirit gives a diversity of gifts for the common good, and that Jesus Christ calls us to work for justice. The ministries of ReconcilingWorks embody, inspire, and support the acceptance and full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, their families, friends and allies, within the Lutheran communion and its ecumenical and global partners. (Reconciling Works: Lutherans for Full Participation, 12/11/18) As much as we would like to believe our work is done once we become a reconciling church, we cannot rest on our laurels but must continue to welcome and support those in the LGBTQ community, as well as others in our society at risk of being marginalized and kept away from the message of God s love. St. John s continues to be committed to the reconciling process and to the people God brings into our church, showing love and acceptance where once was fear and rejection. Membership Committee As part of our mission to recognize and celebrate the members of St. John's, the Membership committee is looking for the following: --donations of birthday and anniversary cards --a volunteer to shop for paper goods at a warehouse store (Sam's Club, Costco, BJMs) --a volunteer to take photos of new members when they join --a volunteer with experience using MS Publisher (or a similar application) to create postings for the new member's board Please contact Monica Weiss-Nolen, chair, if you can help in any way---weissml2@yahoo.com The annual congregation meeting is on January 27th after the worship service. The committees have reported on 2018 and all are waiting for you to read over the annual reports! Please come to the meeting and hear some new ideas about the future of St. John s. A light lunch will be served in the gallery after the meeting.

6 The Gallery at St. John s Art for your Appreciation and Purchase RUINS ENTWINED Photographs of Bethlehem Steel Rust by ALYSSHA EVE CSÜK Watercolors of the Steel Stacks and Historic Bethlehem by JAIME KAROL OPENING RECEPTION, January 13, 12:00 to 3:00 pm ARTIST TALKS at 12:30 pm Alyssha Eve Csük is a fine art photographer whose fascination with bygone industry began in Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally in magazines (American Photo, The Saturday Evening Post, The Atlantic), the New York Times, on NPR and in the entire Fifth Chapter (Indiana Jane) of the book, RUST The Longest War. This exposure resulted in her being added to Timeline of Women in America. Jaime Karol has spent most of her career making art. Prior to her position as a teacher, she spent four years developing the arts department and program at Brownsville Academy HS in Brooklyn where she received the Teacher of the Year Award and the New York State Assembly Award for Teacher Excellence. Her interest in industrial landscapes led her to develop a series of paintings inspired by Bethlehem Steel and the surrounding community. Church Contact Information New Office Hours! M-F 9 AM - 2 PM stjohnseaston@gmail.com Website www:stjohnseaston.org For Newsletter info: stjohnseastonnewsletter@gmail.com --To those who supported the Thanksgiving Basket project. Your very generous donations of food to fill the baskets, funds received from Thrivent Team Action program, donation of turkeys from Giant and Shoprite, and the many volunteers who helped. 51 families had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner. (the Outreach Committee) --To all who helped with the Inside /Out wrapping party, delivery and packaging in December. Also thank you to Toys for Tots and all who donated! (Pastor ) --To all who helped decorate the church for Christmas and provide extra voices, hands and hearts for worship all year long! (spiritual life) JOIN IN THE FELLOWSHIP HOUR Most Sundays following worship the gathering continues with fellowship time in the Gallery. This is an opportunity for members and visitors to share a moment of conversation while sharing in some finger food and drink. If you recognize a visitor sitting in your pew area be sure to extend an invitation to join in the fellowship.