RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS - NOV. 5TH, 2:00 A.M. ALL SAINTS DAY - NOV. 5, 10:00 A.M. TOWN HALL MEETING - NOV. 5, 1:00 P.M.

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1 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS - NOV. 5TH, 2:00 A.M. ALL SAINTS DAY - NOV. 5, 10:00 A.M. TOWN HALL MEETING - NOV. 5, 1:00 P.M. BUDGET MEETING - NOV. 12, 11:00 A.M. SUSQUEHANNA CHILDREN S CONCERT - NOV. 12, 3:00 P.M. NEW MEMBER RECEPTION - NOV. 19, 10:00 A.M. FELLOWSHIP HOUR - NOV. 19, 11:00 A.M. St. John s UCC 1050 Buffalo Road Lewisburg, PA stjohnslewisburg.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 6 Lewisburg, PA DATED MATERIAL

2 2 Page 2 Above all else, the growing Church is a thankful Church! This is a most important thought to keep in mind as Thanksgiving approaches. The gratitude that growing churches experience is in response to the special ways in which God moves through that congregation--inspiring, motivating, deepening. The ministry itself of such a congregation is therefore also concrete expression of such gratitude. People serve willingly and tirelessly in recognition of how blessed they have been. People contribute generously of their time and money in response to the abundance and richness that God has given them. People spontaneously reach out in personal ways to others as a means of sharing what they have come to know through the Church. Thus, other lives are touched, and yet-other persons are brought to the congregation for additional nurture and additional growth. Given this relationship between the thankfulness and the growth, stewardship, and mission of a healthy Church, it is hardly surprising to find at the heart of the Christian faith the celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is sometimes referred to as the Eucharist. While this word may not be a very common one to many persons, it is derived from the Greek noun eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. The act of sharing in the Lord s Supper symbolizes in a very concrete manner the experience of thanksgiving at the center of the life and ministry of the Church. As we approach this year s national holiday, I pray that we might gain a deeper sense of such Godengendered gratitude. Without it, we cannot begin. With it, we will not be stopped. Cordially, Bob Stoudt REPORT ON HURRICANE RELIEF This has been the Fall of the Hurricane, it seems, with a trio of major storms slamming into the Texas Coast, tearing up the length of the state of Florida, and virtually obliterating Puerto Rico, to say nothing of the many other Caribbean islands that were left almost uninhabitable. There can be no question about the future months of concentrated effort and the billions of dollars that will be required to repair the incredible damage that has been done. Through our efforts as a denomination, and in concert with our mission partners in all the affected areas, things are slowly beginning to turn around for the victims of these natural disasters. Though we are but one small corner in a big world of hurt, St. John s has added to the total response of care and compassion. Over the weeks from September 25 th through October 1 st, some $3,627 was received from our members and friends, all of which will be directed to where it is needed most by way of the UCC s disaster response ministries. If you were one of our contributors to date, thanks for your support of this relief effort! Any future financial gifts will be sent along as well, as we demonstrate that we are indeed part of the vital people of God.

3 3 Page 3 1. There was a question made by Duane Snayberger about how he should handle the Gayle Ruhl Estate money of $50,000. There was a motion that we move $15,000 in the checking account and move $35,000 into the Major Building Repair fund. The motion was made, seconded and approved. 2. The deed for St. John s UCC has been cleared. We are moving forward on purchasing the sign. 3. The landscaping is still being completed. A new tree will be planted near the front entrance, but it will not be a dogwood.we need to find out if Jesse Styers can come back one or two times a year for maintenance and how much that will cost. 4. Crop Walk Information was received from the Crop Walk Committee. (Daniel Wilt) The Crop Walk will be held on October 8 th. The money will be going to Church World Service instead of the Food Bank this year 5. Building Use: The League of Women s Voters would like to use the Fellowship Hall On Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 from 7-9pm. A motion was made, seconded and approved, that they be allowed to use the Fellowship Hall on Oct. 4, Men s Barbershop Group Performance: The group asked us if we would like to have them give a performance on Tues., Dec. 19, 2017 at 7pm. We would need to publicize the event and a free will offering would be taken with us splitting it 50/50. Motion made, seconded and approved, to host and publicize the Men s Barbershop Performance. 7. Budget: Stewardship/Finance/Personnel submitted the budget to Consistory for approval before presenting it to the congregation for a vote on the 2 nd Sunday in November (November 12, 2017). 8. Changes Raised landscaping from $500 to $1,000. Raised Insurance Building & Liability from $6,500 to $7,000. Raised Taxes Parsonage/Pavilion from $4,500 to $5, A motion was made to send the budget back to Stewardship/Finance/Personnel to change the three items on the budget, round numbers, and to give 3% increases to the pastor and church secretary. The budget should also include a Donation Sheet that reflects realistic goals for missions. Motion seconded and approved. OCWM Our Challenge OCWM, Our Church s Wider Mission, is the name we give to congregational gifts that support the wider United Church of Christ ministry in Conferences and the national and global church. Programs supported by our Conference are beneficial for our local churches such as programs for youth, (camps and youth events), for our clergy, (continuing education, clergy gatherings, resources), for our Churches, (new church development, pastoral support and care, leadership training), and for our national and global ministries, (missionaries, disaster recovery, and justice advocacy). None of this can be accomplished without the gifts of each member of this congregation. Last year, the total giving to OCWM from this congregation was $15,219.00, which makes the average giving for each envelope unit $ per year or $ 2.00 per week. Let us all try to increase our weekly giving to OCWM. The gifts you give are invested in programs, resources, and tools needed to help each congregation. These gifts allow the Church to be out in the world doing work that we as individuals cannot do. They also support the work we do in our local churches including the search process for a new pastor. Penn Central Conference launched a new campaign called Friends of PCC. If anyone is interested in giving beyond the local church, visit the PCC website at where you will find a Donate button. The vision statement for Penn Central Conference is: United in Christ s love we are Connected to God, neighbor and each other, engaged in serving the needs and ensuring justice in our community and the world, and transformed in Christ s love to create a better future for all of creation to flourish. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you are called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:4-6

4 4 Page 4 THE EAGLE NOVEMBER VOLUNTEERS Ushers: DIANNA & ROGER SPICKLER, LINDA & WAYNE WILLIAMS Lock-up Person: ROGER SPICKLER Lay-Reader: JOHN LETTEER Preparation of Communion Elements: ANNA BROUSE, DIANNA SPICKLER NOVEMBER Children's Church OPENER/FLOWER DEL. 5 LINDA WILLIAMS ANNA BROUSE 12 PAUL/TARA BOZELLA 19 DON ADAMS 26 LIZ DeSANTIS NOVEMBER FLOWER SPONSORS Acolyte Drivers Route 1* 5 DIANNA/ROBER SPICKLER ERIN DeSANTIS 12 TODD HUMMEL JAMES DONLIN ADAMS 19 TARA/PAUL BOZELLA DAVID BOZELLA BAISH 26 BRENDA/DON ADAMS NOVEMBER GREETERS 5 MARTHA/BRUCE RAUCH 12 DOT/ART BOWER 19 TESS/FRED GROOVER 26 LINDA & WAYNE WILLIAMS If you need a ride to church, please contact Ron Zug ( ) who schedules the drivers.

5 5 THE EAGLE Page 5 Prayer List - (Please contact the church office, at , with any updates!) In Hospital Vicki Snyder (Geisinger, #205) At Home- Sid Bowersox, Ruth Brouse, Carol Erdley, Gary & Betty Hackenberg, Richard Heaton, Elaine Klingler, Joanne Stahley, Mary Stover. Shut-In/Homebound In/Homebound- Ann Beasom, Fred Brouse, Marilyn Correll, Leona Fertig, Pearl Fisher, Bill & Lola Fuller, Louise Heistand, Lois Hummel, Evelyn Mabus, Watsontown Rehab, (rm.17), Ethel Moser, Robert Ritter, Shirley Seese (Buffalo Valley 260), Alda Wagner. In our Prayers Marlin Rautzhan, Christine Sartwell, The Family of June Seaman, Sheila Seaman. Thanks so much for the coverlet! Your talent is appreciated! Elaine Klingler Dear Friends in Christ: Thank you for your gift in support of the United church of Christ s Strengthen the Church fund. We are deeply grateful for your donation. Faithfully, Mary A. Paxton, Dir., Office of Philanthropy and Stewardship. Dear St. John s, Thank you ver much for your recent support of the Donald Heiter Community Center. Your contribution helped to support the general operation of the Center, many programs and scholarships! Andrea Tufo, Exec. Dir. June Seaman May 14, October 16, 2017 ADULT CLASS HIATUS AND QUICK SURVEY Following the successful completion of the Sunday morning adult class exploration of the Meaning of Faith, its participants decided to wait until the second Sunday in November (November 12 th ) to begin a study of prayer. It will be an exciting four-part series focusing on: (1) the meaning of prayer, (2) Jesus in prayer, (3) the impact of prayer on our physical and spiritual lives, and (4) understanding your prayer style. The class hiatus presents a perfect opportunity to look for ways to increase congregational participation in this Christian education endeavor at St. John s. In order to help you take part, we would like to hear your response to the following question. Is there a particular time or day that would encourage your participa- tion in the adult class? For example, would you be more likely to take part if the class took place immediately after church? How about later on Sunday afternoon or as an evening gathering during the week? Please contact Gary Nottis ( , gnottis@yahoo.com) or Todd Hummel at the church office ( ) to express your thoughts. We are committed at St. John s to bring you quality adult Christian education in a manner that best serves you!

6 6 Page 6 CONCERNING THAT LITTLE EXPERIMENT If you read last month s newsletter carefully, you probably came across a short article introducing a bit of a light-hearted experiment that we were undertaking. It required only that readers take a few seconds to call the church office and report that they were reading The Eagle. That was it. For two weeks, Todd fielded the incoming calls, all serving as feedback for us concerning communications here at St. John s. After all, any newsletter is only ever as effective as the number of people actually reading it. It was promised that there would be a follow-up article on what the results were. And how did we do? Well, from the 158 households to which the newsletter is mailed every month (representing some 229 adults), a total of 20 individuals called in. Of that number, five were actually nonmembers, and one lives out of the area, leaving the actual local members tally at 14. In all candor, even if we throw in another ten to fifteen persons who read the article but, for whatever reason, decided not to play along, that response must be considered as a bit underwhelming (something in the magnitude of 10%!). Numbers are one thing; understanding what those numbers mean, of course, is something else. And that will require further effort on the part of others, too. If there is anything to these numbers, however, we may need to be rethinking how we do communications at St. John s. In the meantime, the Pastor and the Administrative Assistant are considering throwing themselves on their swords. If they follow through with the idea, it appears that it will be a very small affair. Only a dozen or so folding chairs will be required for any observers who have read about the details.

7 7 Page 7 THANKSGIVING BASKETS 2017 St. John s is again seeking donations of food for Thanksgiving Baskets. We will be providing 10 Thanksgiving boxes this year. As has been our tradition on Sunday, November 19, 2017, the Sunday School Class will be decorating boxes and filling them with food to share with the families in need. These boxes are greatly appreciated by families that receive them. If you would like to contribute to this project, you may leave any of the following items in the box in the Narthex on or before Friday, November 17, Instant Potatoes Canned Vegetables Pie Crust Mix Cranberry Sauce Cake Mix Filling (Boxed Stuffing) Pie Filling Muffin Mix Jell-O or Pudding Fresh Fruit The turkeys have already been donated. We are still accepting donations for the purchase of perishable items, please contact the Church Office Thank you for sharing with others during this holiday, and making a difference in the lives of others! A CALL TO PROSPCTIVE MEMBERS A New Members Sunday is being planned for Sunday, November 19 th, Thanksgiving Sunday --certainly a suitable occasion for such a celebratory occasion, as persons choose to formalize their relationship with St. John s Church. Letters of invitation to join have been mailed to a number of persons in the congregation who recently have been regular parts of our life and fellowship (some of whom you may think are already members here!). It is expected that the nucleus of the New Members Class will come from this group of easilyidentified persons, although there may well be others out there who are interested in joining at this time. If you are one of those persons, please see Pastor Bob or contact the church office ( ) at your earliest convenience.

8 8 A TOWN HALL MEETING Penn Central Conference is planning a Town Hall styled meeting for the afternoon of Sunday, November5th. It is scheduled to begin at 2:30, right here at St. John s. The day s agenda will focus on the proposed ten-year missional plan for the Conference, led by our Penn Central Executive, the Rev. Dr. Monica Dawkins-Smith. Among other changes is the possibility of merging the Central and Northern Associations within the Conference. All interested friends and members of St. John s Church are encouraged to share in the conversation. THE NEXT ORDINATION In the near future, the Central Association will have the privilege of sharing in another ordination into the Christian ministry, this time for Amelia Price. The event will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, November 19th, at Penn s Creek Church, beginning at 2:30 p.m. It is expected that St. John s will be represented by a number of persons. If you are interested in attending as well but do not have a ride, talk to Pastor Bob. We will celebrate ALL SAINTS DAY on Sunday, November 5, During the worship service, we will honor those who have passed during the past year, by a candle lighting ceremony. This service is open to all to honor the memory of loved ones passed. CLEANCLEAN-UP KITS St. John s Mission committee will be collecting funds for 10 clean-up kits. We have a matching grant ($200) from the United Church of Christ, in addition to the monies we raise. There has been so many disasters in the past 6 months, and clean-up kits are desperately needed.

9 9 Page 9 WORSHIP HOURS Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. Worship: 10:00 a.m. Visit us on the Web! St. John s United Church of Christ 1050 Buffalo Road Lewisburg, PA Phone: Fax: stjohnsucc@ptd.net No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here! The Communion offering for November is dedicated to Hoffman Homes. The Communion offering for December is dedicated to Phoebe Ministries. Thanks for your continued support of St. John s missions! SPECIAL NOVEMBER OFFERING - NEIGHBOR S IN NEED DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS With the noticeably shorter days, we knew it was coming. Daylight Savings Time is set to end in the wee hours of Sunday, November 5 th. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour upon retiring for the night on Saturday. BUDGET APPROVAL MEETING The Finance committee will present the 2018 budget for congregational approval, immediately following the worship service on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2017.