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 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 Greetings to all as we Get Excited!!! In the darkest and coldest time of the year, we are lifted up by God s light and warmth. We feel the Holy Spirit and Jesus cries out:... I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life. (John 8:12) Therefore as the light is within us, we are filled with new energy and hope!! Let ourselves trust in Jesus Christ our Lord and respond with joy. We are beginning a new period of revival at Saint John s. We will focus, plan, and execute a more energized way of being the church. Please remember that the real church is not a physical building; we as the body of believers are the church. Jesus says, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) As your pastor, I am asking each of you to join in, support, and have conversations of the new 12 ideas and programs. I cannot better the church by myself. I need every one of us to be on board and excited about our new programs. You are welcome to get involved with all of the ideas, however please consider at least one of the twelve ideas. 1. Starting up a new Children s Sunday school. 2. You are invited to a cottage meeting. A cottage meeting is simply an opportunity to gather friends, neighbors, and Pastor Amy in a home to share a message of HOPE. The meetings can be at a member s home, at the church, or at a diner. The group will choose where and when they will meet. 3. We will create new pictorial directory. 4. We are creating new T-shirts for all members. 5. We are starting up a pre-school children time to play together. 6. We are starting up a youth group. 7. We are creating a wall of faith and testimonies on Ramp bulletin board. 8. Summer weekend Women s retreat 9. Spring weekend Family retreat 10. Prayer and Bible meeting: council room at 9am on Thursdays 11. Book club: council room Thursday 10 am starting Feb Daily Bible Reading Challenge. It will start January 1 st. You will find the packet on the high top table. I will be available to all of you as we meet with our brothers and sisters of Christ. Scriptures for January Jan 1, 1 Christmas First Reading: Isa 63:22-27 Psalm 148 Second Reading: Heb 2:10-18 Gospel: Matt 2:13-23 Jan 8, Baptism of our Lord First Reading: Isa 42:1-9 Psalm 29 Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43 Gospel: Matt 3:13-17 Jan 15, Epiphany 2 First Reading: Isa 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-11 Second Reading: I Cor 1:1-9 Gospel: John 1: Jan 22, Epiphany 3 First Reading: Isa 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 4-9 Second Reading: I Cor 1:10-18 Gospel: Matt 4:12-23 Jan 29, Epiphany 4 First Reading: Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 Second Reading: I Cor 1:18-31 Gospel: Matt 5:1-12 Peace be with you, Pastor Amy

3 A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! This is just one group who went caroling! Here we are visiting with Richard. Thank you to all who contributed to the father and son who would have had no Christmas. Don and Pastor presented the gifts to Chris on Thursday. On Saturday Anthony (Chris s son) visited his dad and was surprised with the bounty. We gave Anthony a remote control truck, legos, hat, gloves, candy, and a warm blanket. We gave Chris two jackets and a shirt along with body spray. What a joy it is to give!!! Stewardship The Necessity of Sharing Over a thousand years ago, a saintly Christian made the following comment, If a man were given all the material things of the world, all the cattle, lands, lakes, he would be unhappy unless he could share them with someone he loved. St. Aelred. When one thinks about sharing seriously, the likelihood is that one will come to understand that sharing is an absolute necessity. Especially if we are to have good spiritual and mental health. God has made us to give, to share. It is part of loving. It is part of what brings inner joy. It is surely one of the reasons that Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Giving does as much, often even more, for ourselves as it does for the people and good causes we support. Think about that when the offering is taken during worship. Think about that when you have an opportunity to share your God-given resources with legitimate charities or someone who desperately needs a handout and a hand up. Then enjoy the blessings you will receive in return. Pennridge FISH 2016 FISH Christmas Updates - Thank you to all the incredible community members, churches, organizations, businesses, and more that donated food, coats, toys and gifts to Pennridge FISH for the 2016 Christmas program! You all outdid yourselves! Thanks to you, we were able to serve more than 500 children with holiday gifts and more than 425 families with complete holiday meals! (A record number of families served, by the way!) Pennridge, YOU ROCK!

4 Roy Ann Diner, Placemats and St. John s We are pleased to share with our congregation that we have placed an advertisement which will appear on the placemats of the Roy Ann Diner beginning Dec. thru Feb. A sample placemat can be found on the bulletin board in the Fellowship room. Getting the word out regarding our great church is always important. The placemat concept is another medium for accomplishing this, and one which we have not tried before. It has been established that individuals while awaiting their meal, will read. Our ad appears on the side rim which is a plus for St. John s as well. It is of value that we keep our Church s name visible and in the limelight as there are many churches in the area all looking for new members as well. We St. John s and we endeavor to encourage others to Share Our Joy! Pat Traynor -CGOC Dear Congregation, On behalf of the Christian, Growth, Outreach and Communications Committee, I would like to extend Happy New Year and our Best Wishes. May our congregation and friends of St. John s be blessed with God s graciousness for good health, contentment and much happiness in this coming year. We extend an invitation for your involvement in our committee as we endeavor to reach out to all seeking to find a church home or visit with us when they are in need of contentment and God s help. Suggestions and ideas, both old, and new, are vital for the growth of our church as the age of our congregation increases. We have many committees here at St. John s who would be delighted with your assistance, as well as any ideas you may have to offer for the betterment of St. John s. The CGOC is looking forward to your input this coming year. There is a mailbox in the Church Office marked CGOC or contact one of our committee members. Thank you for your support, we look forward to hearing from you. Best Wishes, Pat Traynor, Carolyn Hafler, Mark Gottesfeld, Barbara Klinger, Sharon Saylor

5 SILVER SPRINGS MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL NEWS Silver Springs Martin Luther School Christmas 2016 Meeting - The SS-MLS North Penn Auxiliary met in December at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Souderton. We started with prayer and thanks from Pastor Guiser for our support of the school. He has worked with the school and says It is the best thing the Lutheran Church can support. I want to thank everyone who sent gifts and cash to the school. We filled a van with gifts that were transported to the school for the children for their Christmas party. If there are any overflow gifts they will go to the foster kids being served by the school. At present there are 70 residential students and some of the children have never received a Christmas or birthday gift. Last year one little girl cried as they were handing out the gifts and she told the counselor that she wasn t sad but happy because no one ever loved her enough to give her a gift before. These children have lived a life in very difficult circumstances through no fault of their own. A lot of the children arrive at the school convinced that they are unlovable. That is where the school begins the healing process. Only 30% of the children come to the school from Philadelphia. One little boy is about to be discharged to an aunt in Lehigh County. He is so excited because he is going to have a family. He has said I just can t believe this!!! He has had a remarkable recovery! Praise the Lord! Usually on Christmas Day most of the children go home to family members for the day. This year there are 40 children who either have no families to go home to or their situation is too complex to leave the school. This is a record for the school but they will still celebrate the day. Please keep these children in your prayers. We collected $ in the free will offering and we voted to have the school use it for Project Warm Up. They are in the process of fixing up the residential rooms for the children. The next meeting will be a Pie Day Meeting the first Tuesday in April If anyone is interested in more information about the school, I have placed information in the Coffee Fellowship Area and please feel free to take the information or talk to me. Marianne Yeakel Voices for the Vanderslice Family: At Christ s Lutheran Church, 700 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Orefield, PA there will be a benefit concert on February 4 at 6PM (snow date Feb. 5) to raise funds for the Vanderslice family to cover some expenses as they fight Pastor Bill s Lukemia. Please join them for the concert! Tickets are $15. There will be refreshments and a free will offering. Can t attend? Mail donations payable to Christ s Lutheran Church. Please put Voices for Vanderslice in the memo line. News & Announcements On Our Sign This Month: Jesus - the gift you will not return Dear Congregation: For fellowship & sharing, lease mark your goodies if they contain nuts. Unfortunately, this can be serious for children and adults. Thank you for your consideration. ANNUAL REPORT REMINDER: To all who are responsible for turning in a written or financial report for the Annual Meeting s printed report, Please be sure your materials are received by the office no later than January 12 th. We need time to create the report and it is due to be distributed 2 weeks prior to the meeting on the First Sunday of February, Memorials were received in loving memory of Doris Barndt from Ms. Harriet Wolfinger and from Jere & Dorene Gulden

6 Members: Carolyn Hafler, Joanne Heffendrager, Harriet Woehr, Neala Hopkins, Owen Spangenberg, Friends: Ruth Barnaby, Sandy Driscoll, Eddie Galgon, Larry Godshall, Mary King, Wyatt Rotenberger, Elizabeth Schmitt, Dorothy Troxel, William Vanderslice. Homebound: Francis Allem, Claude & Dorothy Barndt, Doris Clayton, Edna Barndt, Harold & Gert Benner, Pauline Berndt, Helen Brensinger, Pauline Brensinger, Lucille Caruso, Ed Geiger, James Gotthardt, Willis & Lorraine Heacock, Bob Kulp, Ruth & Charles Marx, Thomas & Blanche Matczak, Dean Souder, Mark Trauger, Elaine Turner. We need sponsors for Bulletins; Sanctuary Lamp and FLOWERS - Please consider helping to beautify the church in this way. Stewardship Necessity of Sharing: Over a thousand years ago, a saintly Christian made the following comment, If a man were give all the material things of the world, all the cattle, lands, Lakes he would be unhappy unless he could share them with someone he loved. St. Aelred. When one thinks about sharing seriously, the likelihood is that one will come to understand that sharing is an absolute necessity. Especially if we are to have good spiritual and mental health. God has made us to give, to share. It is part of loving. It is part of what brings inner joy. It is surely one of the reasons that Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Giving does as much, often even more, for ourselves as it does for the people and good causes we support. Think about that when the offering is taken during worship. Think about that when you have an opportunity to share your God-given resources with legitimate charities or someone who desperately needs a handout and a hand up. Then enjoy the blessings you will receive in return.

7 PLEASE JOIN US ON FEBRUARY 5 TH The Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group: Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat. Since that day, more than $125 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around the Big Game into the nation s largest celebration of giving and serving. Through this mission, young people learn what it s like to make a positive difference in the world as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to those in need. Be part of this movement that is sharing God s love with those in need. Please give generously on Super Bowl Sunday. Watch the Bulletin for more details! We plan to donate funds raised to local charities including Pennridge FISH & The Quakertown Food Pantry The Gifts of the Magi and Our Gifts to Jesus Scripture tells us the Magi brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were fitting gifts, as gold symbolizes loyalty, frankincense deity, and myrrh mortality. Jesus was born a human, yet also the Son of God, and King of kings. What gifts can we bring to Jesus here and now? Time is one. We need to spend time with the bible, to read its passages and understand what our Triune God has done for us, and how He can insire us. We need to spend time at worship to sing our praises to God, and thank Him for all our blessings. We need fellowship to gain spiritual strength from each other. Remember, Keep the Sabbath holy. How about our treasures? We gather together at a beautiful church, but it needs our money to operate. There are the normal bills to be paid: heating/cooling, repairs, maintenance, and improvements. We also need to pay the critical people who keep the church going: Pastor Amy, who brings the scriptures to life, Mark Gottesfeld, our talented music director, and our office staff of Jeff and Karen who keep things running smoothly, and our sextons who clean our church. Of course, we need to share our talents as well. We have many volunteers that help our church: singers, musicians, altar guild, Sunday school teachers, grounds keepers, repair and maintenance folks, tellers, council members, social outreach people, to name a few. Many of you who read this are already sharing all of the above gifts. But search your heart- could you do even more in one of these areas? An extra half hour of volunteer work, a little more in the offering plate, or an extra voice at worship can make a big difference. One thing all of us can do is to invite and encourage. We need to invite visitors and grow our church, and we always need to encourage each other to do good. Doing God s work is not always easy, but it is always rewarding. Don Graham A Word from our President, Don Graham

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10 January 2017