February St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1028 Church Street, PO Box 966 Fogelsville, PA

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1 St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1028 Church Street, PO Box 966 Fogelsville, PA The Rev. Nelson Quiñones, Pastor Church Phone: (610) Church stjohns.lutheran@verizon.net February 2019 COMING IN FEBRUARY: February 3: Souper Bowl Sunday February 10: Boy Scout Sunday & Coffee Hour Dear St. John s Members & Friends. I can t believe I am writing this newsletter in January. A whole month has passed by and we are looking at February and onto Valentine s Day. With the beginning of February, the church calendar signals that we are also half way through the Season of Epiphany that started in mid- January. For the Christian Church, Epiphany is God s manifestation of Jesus being revealed to the world. Remember Christmas. The Divine Baby found in a manger. Remember the Magi. Following the brightness of the star where God reveled the Christ to the Magi. Following the brightness of the star where God reveled the Christ Child. In March, we ll celebrate the Transfiguration of Our Lord. All of these events point to a manifestation - a revelation, an insight God has granted people to see. Time seems to pass us by and yet it appears that God s story is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God s revelation to the world is of A Divine Love that has come to infiltrate every month of our lives to fill us with Divine Love. LOOKING AHEAD 3/6 Ash Wednesday Thanks be to God, The Rev. Nelson Quiñones, Pastor Thank you to everyone who completed a NEWSLETTER QUESTIONNAIRE! If you have already selected your preference, great, if not it is not too late simply let us know if you wish to receive your copy by , pick up in the narthex, or continue through postal mail. You may change your preference at any time. 2

2 OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP IN FEBRUARY: Sunday, February 3, th Sunday after Epiphany Souper Bowl Sunday The glory of God is often revealed when and where it is least expected. God uses our lips to declare that glory, inexperienced and hesitant though they may be. God uses our love to demonstrate that glory and so urges us to exercise it. God uses Jesus of Nazareth, water and the word, bread and wine, to reveal God s glory where and when God chooses. Take heed, lest the glory of God slip through our midst unnoticed. Sunday, February 10, th Sunday after Epiphany Boy Scout Sunday The fifth Sunday after Epiphany continues to highlight unlikely instruments and circumstances appointed to reveal the glory of the Lord. Who will go for us? queries the voice of the Lord. A man of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn t catch a thing. More surprising still, perhaps, is the fact that we are also called. Sunday, February 17, th Sunday after Epiphany Blessings and curses abound on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany. We would do well to listen closely to whom the blessed ares and the woe tos are directed and to find our place in the crowd among those who desire to touch Jesus. The risen Christ stands among us in the mystery of the holy supper with an invitation to live in him and the power to heal us all. 3 Sunday, February 24, th Sunday after Epiphany Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. Joseph lives it in Egypt. Jesus preaches it in the gospel. The Spirit guides us into merciful lives with the power of forgiveness to reconcile what is fractured and divided. Such merciful living is the baptismal blessing of having put on Christ. It is the gift of the life-giving Spirit. It is a reflection of the glory of God revealed in the Christ. REMINDER!!! Church cancellations will be displayed on WFMZ TV (or wfmz.com) on mornings of bad weather. You can also call the church office and listen to the answering machine, it will relay cancellations. Mission Statement We, the members of St. John s Lutheran Church, Fogelsville, desiring to be blessed together with Word and Sacrament and to become more perfectly the Body of Christ in the world, do hereby commit ourselves to a mission which involves: increasingly creative and meaningful worship; developing additional opportunities for Christian Education; intentional witnessing to our congregation and community; Christ-centered social ministries and; promoting a more effective stewardship program which helps people to become better aware of what we have to offer and where we have needs. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. - John 3:16 4

3 HOSPITALIZED OR HOMEBOUND?? Please be assured that pastoral visitation and Home Communion are always available at St. John s from the lay distribution visitors or the pastor. Phone the church office at or us at stjohns.lutheran@verizon.net if you or a family member desires the sacrament or a visit. We appreciate all those who have contacted us about hospitalization or change of address. OUR CHURCH HOSPITAL CODE IS: #281 The Giving Surveys introduced new methods of giving including bank bill pay, a phone app, or through our website with a credit/debit card. Information about these new forms of giving are now available in the church narthex and on our website. You may now choose how you give to St. John s! If you have any questions about these new options, or the Simply Giving program, please contact the church office. There was no regular December Council meeting, due to their holiday party. Special Council Meeting - December 16, 2018 after worship In Attendance: Curtis White, Ed & Nancy Neely, Ray Bainbridge, Bob Neumoyer, Donna Moyer, Cliff Romig, Rich Ludwig-Dicus Meeting was called to order by President, Rich Ludwig-Dicus. Ray Bainbridge made a motion to have the Restoration Fund repay the Building Fund money owed and to transfer the $14, from Restoration to Building Fund. Seconded by Nancy Neely. Motion passed 8-0. Curtis motioned to adjourn meeting. Seconded by Bob Neumoyer. Motion passed. Meeting Adjourned. Submitted by Rich Ludwig-Dicus All minutes from past meetings are available in the church office. 5 A Few Things To Keep In Mind: Food Card Sales: ½ of the profit from the food card sales will go towards the Restoration Fund, the other ½ will continue to help support Second Harvest Food Bank. UPDATE: Food card sales through the fourth quarter of 2018 totaled $33,350. Both the Restoration Fund and Second Harvest received $1, Please see Dick Crooker, Dave Neimeyer or Bill Gery any Sunday morning to purchase cards (Giant, Weis, Render s and Wegmans), or stop by the office during the week Address Directories are now available in the narthex. You may also request a PDF copy by . Flower & Bulletin Charts for 2019 are posted in the narthex! Bulletins - $15; Flowers - $17.50 for one vase and $35 for two (note new price for 2019). Mark the chart if you would like to leave the flowers to be delivered to a sick or homebound member. If you will be visiting someone or would be willing to deliver, please contact the office or see Peggy Kriebel. 6

4 2019 Giving Envelopes are still available for pick-up. Envelopes have been moved to the office. The password to access the updated PDF version of our pictorial directory (on our website) was included with your envelopes. Don t forget to sign the cards in the narthex! Each week you will find cards for our members celebrating 75+ year birthdays, and occasionally cards for members on our prayer list. Weekly - If you would like to be added, please send us a note to: stjohns.lutheran@verizon.net. Redner s Receipts - We are still participating in the Sav-A- Tape program at Redner s Market. Please deposit tapes in the box in the narthex. In order to remain in voting status as a member of St. John s we must have record of your communion at least once each year through the completion of a communion card (found in every pew). We ask that you please take a moment on Sunday to fill out one of these cards if you have not already done so. Thank you! Cookbooks now $10 each, please see Neola Geschel to purchase one (or more they make great gifts!) The proceeds will benefit St. John s Restoration Fund. Church Keys If you served on Council or a Committee in the past and received a key that you no longer need, please turn it into the church office. We have limited copies of church door keys and need to redistribute them to those who need them. Thank you! Blood pressure screenings are offered once a month by the Wellness Team. They will usually take place during coffee hour. FREE - everyone is encouraged to participate. Upcoming Events/Opportunities: Souper Bowl of Caring Use the bounty exhibited during the football s Super Bowl as a call to action to assist those for whom hunger is an everyday struggle. On February 3 rd our youth will collect $ to support St. Paul s Food Pantry. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6, Join us for worship with communion and imposition of ashes at 7 PM. Calling all interested singers to join our choir on Thursdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays at 10:10 AM. We always welcome interested singers, ages high school and up! See Beth. Thank You To Jeff Ludwig-Dicus, Dave Neimeyer and Neola Geschel for serving as our Audit Committee this year. To everyone who is supporting the Restoration Fund and the Food Bank through the purchase of food cards. Special thanks to Dick Crooker for supplying/selling the cards, and also to Dave Neimeyer and Bill Gery. To everyone who continues to donate to the St. Paul s Community Food Pantry, and also Second Harvest Food Bank. To all who have designated their Thrivent Choice Dollars to St. John s Church. To all who serve during Sunday s service as worship volunteers. 7 8

5 The Annual Reports for 2018 will be handed out during the meeting on January 27, If you are unable to attend or would like an extra copy, they can be found in the church narthex or by calling the office. Be Our Facebook Friend!! If you're on Facebook connect to your St. John's friends by searching "St. John's Lutheran Church" and if you're a youth or parent in the congregation join the "St. John's Lutheran Youth Group" to keep up to date! We are still looking for any youth that may be interested in serving as either communion bearers or acolytes/crucifers. Please contact the office for more info. Sunday School has begun but it is never too late to join us. We have classes available for toddlers through adult. Souper Bowl of Caring Use the bounty exhibited during the football s Super Bowl as a call to action to assist those for whom hunger is an everyday struggle. On Feb. 3 rd our youth will collect $$$ to the Food Pantry at St. Paul s in Trexlertown. Also, check out the Youth Page on our website!!! More events are still being planned: please watch the bulletin announcements and weekly s for updates. 9 10

6 St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1028 Church Street, PO Box 966 Fogelsville, PA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 11 12