9:30AM - Sunday School 9:40AM - Adult Sunday School

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1 St. John s evangelical Lutheran Church, 910 Allentown Road, Sellersville, PA Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM 12 PM Office Phone: stjohnsridgevalley@verizon.net Web: Worship Schedule: 8:30AM Traditional Service 10:15AM Praise Service 9:30AM - Sunday School 9:40AM - Adult Sunday School St. John s Council Members: Don Graham Council President Phyllis Kogel Council Vice President Barbara fefebruary Klinger Financial Secretary Dan Traynor Treasurer Cornell Hopkins Council/Council Secretary Nancy Esposito Doug Kemp Shirley Nase Chris Wall The Reverend Amy Hotter, Pastor (267) Ministers: The People of St. John s Jeff Daniel, Office Manager. (215) Mark Gottesfeld, Organist & Music Director Christine Nyce, Laurie Hopkins - Sextons ST. JOHN S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 910 ALLENTOWN ROAD SELLERSVILLE PA Place label here

2 Dear Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, In the past 2 to 3 months we have had an tremendous amount of our family members who have become ill or hurt. I ask you to pray, send cards, visit, or break bread together for Candy Cuneo, Harriet Woehr, Diane Belles, Barbara Klinger, B J Hanson, Carl Knerr, Shirley and Fred Schirk, Grace Grater, Harold Benner, Richard Croissette, Rick Rogers, Brenda Wall, Susie Diehl, Lois Guenst, Helen Brensinger, Lorianne Heacock, Kathy Pegg, Sue Crouthamel, along with three grieving families of Jane Roeder, Barbara May, and Dan Traynor. Please reach out and share your love. A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. I ve gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can t remember a single one of them. So, I think I m wasting my time and the preachers are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all. This started a controversy in the Letters to the Editor column, to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today! Author Unknown Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight... Paul spoke on the Law and Prophets, concerning Jesus the Messiah. Paul talked on and on. Yet there is a mystery that God reveals. The mystery is that no can come to know God by human reason alone, but only through this power of God has given of Himself in the person of Jesus Christ... God dwelling in us and living through us. For many American churchgoers, the church is important because it meets many of their personal needs. They shop around for a church that makes them feel good each week. They get a weekly boost that enables them to cope with life. However the real truth is that hearing the Word of Jesus Christ, His church, we are indwelled by Christ and reflect Him to the world. We re not just a collection of individuals who happen to meet at the same spot every week for worship and instruction. We are to become the family of God, which implies relationships. (We are) a network of caring souls where a person can be nurtured to maturity in Christ in a family atmosphere. Thanks be to God and may we act with compassion. Pastor Amy Article citation: 3/3 Jason Arinsberg 3/9 Mark Bruder 3/13 Owen Spangenberg 3/15 Cheryl Wagner 3/17 Barb Berberich 3/18 Dave Beck II 3/19 Linda Trauger 3/22 Timothy Britton 3/25 Edgar Geiger 3/26 Don Grahm Courtney Klinger 3/27 Richard Baxter Walton Kolb 3/28 Penny 3/31 Nicole Strain Scriptures for March *March 1 st Ash Wednesday 1 th Joel 2:1-2, Ash Or Isa 58:1-12 Ps 51: Cor 5:20b-6:10 Matt 6:1-6,` th Gen 2:15-17, L1 Ps 32 Rom 5:12-19 Matt 4: th Gen 12:1-4a L2 Ps 121 Rom 4:1-5, John 3: th Exod 17:1-7 L3 Ps 95 Rom 5:1-11 John 4: th 1 Sam 16:1-13 Ps 23 Eph 5:8-14 John 9:1-41

3 The Pretzel is a Symbol of Prayer About 1500 years ago in Southern Europe, a monk used the leftover scraps of bread dough for something a little more imaginative. He formed the scraps into dough-ropes which he twisted into the now familiar shape. Someone remarked that the shape reminded them of a child s arms folded in prayer. Therefore, the Latin words of pretiolae and bracellae little rewards for children who learned their prayers well The pretzel first was made by Christians in the fifth century as Lenten bread, since it consisted only of flour, salt and water (also now yeast), but no milk or eggs which were forbidden during Lent. It is from the Germanic version of pretiola brezel that we get the word pretzel. To this day the pretzel still shows the arms crossed in prayer, telling us that Lent is a time of reverent prayer. The sign of Christian love is expressed in this early Christian prayer: Grant us, we pray, that we too, may be reminded by the daily sight of these pretzels to observe the holy season of Lent with true devotion and great spiritual fruit. Pat Traynor LENT IS A TIME FOR REPENTANCE Repentance is the process by which we see ourselves, day by day, as we really are: sinful, needy dependent people. It is the process by which we see God as He is: awesome, majestic and holy. Charles Colson

4 2017 Lenten Collections for Lutheran World Relief - I recently received a letter from our local Synod regarding collections for the Synod Ingathering. In the past we have collected for both local organizations and Lutheran World Relief prior to Christmas. This year Synod was not able to host an ingathering. However, they will be having an Ingathering at the Synod Assembly in Franconia on Saturday, May 6, They have asked us to continue to donate to local institutions, thereby building ministry relationships with these local partners. So we will continue to donate to Pennridge FISH, The Quakertown Food Pantry, Project Linus and other local organizations in need of support. During the Lenten Season we will collect various items for the LWR kits. We assemble baby layette kits, school supply kits, personal care kits and of course quilts. We will not collect for the school kits during Lent but will wait until July and August when school supplies are on sale. The following is a list of items that can be placed in the Coffee Fellowship Area to support kits: Bars of Soap Light Weight Bath Towels, dark colors (approximately 20 X 40 but no larger than 52 X 27 ) Nail Clippers Sturdy Combs Toothbrushes Hand Towels, dark colors, Light Weight Sox for Babies, size 3 months up to 24 months Gowns or Sleepers without Feet, size 6 months up to 24 months Shirts/Onesies, size 6 months to 24 mos. (comfort crafters will convert onesies to undershirts) Items will be collected through Easter Sunday. Comfort Crafters are continuing to assemble utility quilts and will send them to the Ingathering in May. If you have any questions, please see me. Thank you for contributions and support, Marianne Yeakel Comfort Crafters are in need of flat sheets (full, queen or king) that can be used as a backing for the quilts they assemble for Lutheran World Relief. Ideal are cotton blend or flannel. The flannel can be used as filler between the top and back of the quilt. They can use fitted bottom sheets if they are queen or king size. Also, pillowcases are stuffed with leftover batting and given to The Upper Bucks ASPCA for pet bedding.

5 April 4, 2017 Silver Springs Martin Luther School Nut Free Pie Day Meeting Please consider joining me and other Lutheran members of the North Penn Auxiliary of the Silver Springs Martin Luther School on Tuesday, April 4, 2017at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 20 Dill Avenue, Perkasie, PA for our Nut Free Pie Day Meeting. The meeting will begin at Noon and conclude before 2:30 PM. Please bring your sandwich as beverage and dessert will be supplied. Also, bring along a nut free dessert to transport to the school for the children. Pie Day is always a big hit for the children served by the school. Staff from the school will be on hand to give information about the school and the students who attend. It is always a wonderful luncheon and so heartwarming to learn more about the school. There will be a free will offering and we will vote as to where we would like the school to use the money. I will take any desserts with me to the meeting along with any cash donations and as always the Box Tops for Education labels. Please see me for more information. Thank you, Marianne Yeakel LENT BEGINS with ASH WEDNESDAY on March 1 st. Please join us at 7:30 PM for a service of Holy Communion here at St. John s We will also have a service at Hidden Meadows on the Ridge (340 Farmer s Lane, Sellersville) At 2:00 pm. Please Pray for healing of our loved ones: Doris Clayton; Candy Cuneo; Carolyn Hafler, Joanne Heffendrager; Barbara Klinger; Marvin Leister; Harriet Woehr; Owen Spangenberg; Pat Traynor; Brenda Wall; Richard Rogers Friends of St. John's: Ruth Barnaby; Eddie Galgon; Larry Godshall; Mary King; Wyatt Rotenberger; Elizabeth Schmitt; Dorothy Troxel; Pastor Vanderslice Please keep our homebound in your prayers: Francis Allem, Claude & Dorothy Barndt, Edna Barndt, Harold & Gert Benner, Pauline Berndt, Helen Brensinger, Pauline Brensinger, Lucille Caruso, Doris Clayton, Ed Geiger, James Gotthardt, Willis & Lorraine Heacock, Bob Kulp, Charles Marx, Mark Trauger, Elaine Turner, Dean Souder. Prayers of our Military - Pvt. Cody Hotter Prayers for the family of Dan Traynor who died on February 19 th. A funeral was held on February 24 th. Sat. June 17th Hi Everyone, Last year was our first real Flea Market venture. And it was a success. We had about 80 cars coming and going during the event. Not too early to and get your goodies ready for their new homes! More info to follow next month. Pat Traynor and Don Graham

6 Get What You Give : He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. It stands to reason that the bigger the investment, the bigger the opportunity to gain. Another way of saying it: You get out of something in proportion to what you put in. Think about it. How much do you put in your envelope each Sunday? The specific amount isn t important. How much of YOU do you put in? How much as a representation of your love and thanksgiving? How much as a sacrifice? Do you give a dollar or two because it s easy to give? Or do you give a meaningful, significant amount? The next question: What do you expect to get in return for what you give? You may think you shouldn t expect anything; after all, you don t make deals with Almighty God. But can we ignore our Lord s own words: Give and it shall be given to you. And it would follow that the more you give, the more will be given to you. Try it. See if it s possible to out-do Almighty God in generosity. Christian Stewardship is the practice of systematically and proportionately giving of time, abilities, and material possessions based on the conviction that these are a trust from God, to be used in his service for the benefit of all humankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ s redeeming love.

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10 News & Announcements Please save the date: the annual Easter breakfast will be on Saturday, April 8 th from 8-10 a.m. More details will be in the next month s newsletter. A Menorial was received: in loving memory of Roy Hafler s Birthday from Carolyn Hafler. For fellowship & sharing: please mark your goodies if they contain nuts. Unfortunately, this can be serious for children and adults. Thank you for your consideration. Upcoming Events & Activities: March 1 Ash Wed service March 8 th * 15 th * 22 nd * 29 th * April 5 th Soup supper/ lent appreciation Wednesday s with Luther. March 19 Chili cook-off- after 10:15 service April 8 Easter breakfast & egg hunt April 9 Palm Sunday April 13 Maundy 7:30 pm April 14 - Good Friday services 7:30 pm & 2:00 pm Hidden Meadows April 15 Easter vigil 7:30 April 16 Easter Sunday 6:30 am & 10:15 am May 20 Spaghetti dinner June 4 - Annual picnic One Service Sunday 10:15 am June 17 2nd annual flea market July Bible school Aug, 19 Annual Carillon concert Sept 16 Progressive dinner Sept. 23 Harvest set-up Sept. 24 Harvest home Sunday Oct. 14 Bingo Dec. 3 - Hanging of greens Dec. 9 Christmas tree Dec. 10 Christmas caroling Dec. 17 Decorate the tree Dec (Sunday) Christmas Eve Dec (Monday) Christmas February 4, Annual Meeting