St. John’s Messenger
Volume 94, Issue 20
October 1, 2014
Dewy Web
Fall mornings seem to make the weight of the world hang in a different angle. Perhaps it is the
change of the Sun’s angle or the shift in temperatures, but a simple walk can seem to make the
hidden become visible. Too much of life is lived in a hum-drum nod of “been there. Done that.” and
“uh huh” to what was simply expected. It is a great joy to see what you have not seen before.
Sometimes, it is what you could not see before.
This morning (as I write this), I was taking the rubbish over to the dumpster. A simple and usually
quite uneventful task. I would probably prefer it this way. I prefer not to be too aware of the smells
and sights when in the middle of this task. I also feel a little sorry for those of you that might be
surprised by a lingering raccoon or bear (or even what lingers behind as their shredded castoffs). No,
I would prefer to get it over with and move on to my long list of to-dos and hope-it-happens. So, in
the midst of my early morning drudging and double bagging, I looked up to see the visible work of a
busy spider. The dew now covered the arachnid’s handiwork so thickly that it appeared to be made
of a light silk. It hung there like circles of very thin fabric. The foggy morning light making my eyes
think it might be solid, by my mind knowing that it was just a spider web. As I walked around the back
corner by the carriage house, I walked through a low dewy web. It was not sticky. It disappeared in a
wet whiff into the grass.
I thought, how frustrating it might be for the spider to be awakened by a passing truck, only to realize
that it is a dewy morning. There would be no breakfast today. Not even a mayfly is stupid enough to
fly into a clearly visible dewy web. Even if it did, it would not stick!
Perhaps this is a fraction of the way it is with faith. God’s hiddenness has a purpose, to drive our
desire and enflame our hope for what we cannot see. So many question if God exists and why we
cannot see and know God easily. Maybe those are the wrong questions. Anyway, there are always
those dewy mornings when we see the hem of God’s garments dangling all around us, protecting us
and keeping us safe. Those moments have a purpose, too. They help us when our faith is weak and
our proclamation is timid. When the hidden becomes visible, we are called to point and give praise.
To God alone be all the Glory!
In Christ,
Pastor Fitch
Saturday, October 11, 2014
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Fishing, Food, Children’s Games, Crafts
Silent Auction, Mr. Sticky
Contests
Hula Hoop 12:00
Candy Scramble 1:00
Bubble Gum Blowing 2:00
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
by
Marty Pants – Balloon Artist from 11:00-2:00
Caz Russell and Chilli 1:30
Fishing is open to kids up to 12 years old; $3.50
Prizes are given for catching the ~ biggest fish ~ tagged fish
Autumn Soup Sale
Items for the Rummage Sale may be placed
on the stage in Fellowship Hall
Monday-Thursday 8:30-3:00 and Fridays
from 8:30-Noon, Sundays 9:00-Noon.
The Rummage, Soup & Bake Sale will be
held October 23 & 24 from 8:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. and October 25 from 8:00 a.m.Noon.
Help is needed setting up on Wednesday,
October 22 from 9 a.m.-?
Soup orders are being taken through October
12. $5 per quart of chicken corn, vegetable
beef, or ham and bean. Pick up will be
during the Rummage Sale on October 23-25.
So place your orders now for some delicious
soup and stock up for winter!!! Order forms
are located in the rear of the sanctuary, or
you may place your order by calling the
Church Office.
Additional soup at the Rummage Sale may
be available while supplies last.
It’s Roadside Cleanup Time Again!
It is time for our fall roadside
cleanup. Mark your calendar
for Saturday, October 4.
As usual, we’ll meet in
the American Legion
Post 44 parking lot at 9:00 AM. Any ablebodied individuals willing to be good
stewards of a small section of God’s good
Earth is welcome and urged to help. It
usually doesn’t take too long; of course, the
more hands the shorter the time. In the
event of inclement weather, we’ll postpone
the cleanup to a later date to be decided.
On Sunday, October 26th,
three youth will be
confirmed. There will be a
light luncheon in Fellowship
Hall after the 10:15 service
to honor this year’s
confirmands. The Education/Evangelism
Committee hopes you can attend to
congratulate these young people. Please
call the Church Office, 473-3770, to make
your reservation. The last day for
reservations is October 15th.
Equals at Communion
After saving England from Napoleon’s threats
in 1815, the Duke of Wellington achieved hero
status. One Sunday as the duke approached
the altar for communion, a poor man from
London’s streets, wearing rags, knelt beside
him. The indignant minister whispered for the
vagrant to move away. “Don’t you realize this
is the great Duke of Wellington?” he asked.
When the duke overhead, he responded,
“Leave him alone. We’re all the same here.
The ground is level at the cross.”
That’s the spirit in which we celebrate World
Communion Sunday on the first Sunday of
October. Paul says believers share the Lord’s
Supper by partaking of the “one bread” (1
Corinthians 10:17). Everyone at the
communion table is equal in God’s sight,
needing his forgiveness and grace.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
ST. JOHN’S HISTORY-ARCHIVE DAY& TUREEN LUNCH
Sunday, November 2nd
Everyone is invited to attend our History-Archive Day and Lunch. St. John’s has a rich history
and we would like to share some of our archived treasures for you to look through. A collection
of selected items will be on display in Fellowship Hall beginning at 9 a.m.
We will be having a tureen lunch following the 10:15 service. Meat and drink will be provided.
You are asked to bring a tureen dish to share. The kitchen will be manned to put cold dishes in
the refrigerator and watch warm dishes in the oven or crockpots.
Please RSVP by filling out and returning the slip below or calling the Church Office by
October 26th.
------------------------------------------------------- -------------HISTORY DAY
Name _____________________________________________
Number attending ______________
POPCORN…POPCORN…
GET YOUR POPCORN
Cubs & Boy Scout Popcorn Sale
St. John’s Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout
Troop are selling Camp Masters Popcorn. On
average, 70% of each dollar goes to local
scouting programs. To order, see any Cub or
Scout. There is also an order sheet posted
across the hall from the church office.
5 Way Chocolatey Treasure Tin (76 oz) $50
3 Way Cheese Tin (16.5 oz) $30
24 Pack Movie Theater Extra Butter,
Microwave $25
24 Variety Pack (Movie Theater, Fat Free,
Sweet & Salty and White Cheddar) $25
Supreme Caramel Crunch w/ Almonds, Pecans,
and Cashews (20 oz) $20
Chocolatey Caramel Corn (20 oz) $20
20 Pack Snack Size, Fat Free, Microwave, $20
Classic Trail Mix, No salt or oil added,
(16 oz) $20
15 Pack Extra Butter, Microwave $15
14 Pack Sweet & Salty, Microwave $15
Caramel Corn, (8 oz) $10
24 oz. Gourmet Popping Tin, $10
Send popcorn to military personnel. While
there are $15 and $40 donations amounts, a
donation in any amount will be given to this
program.
YOUTH GATHERING
YOUTH ADVISOR NEEDED!!
Our previous youth leader who was going
to accompany our two youth to the Youth
Gathering in Detroit will no longer be able
to make the trip due to a work internship
next summer.
We are, therefore, asking for any adult 21
years of age or older, if they would be
interested in this trip. The date of the
gathering is July 15-19 (plus travel time).
Previous attendees have all spoken very
highly of their Gathering experiences.
If you are interested in going, please
contact the Church Office as soon as
possible.
to Susquehanna Valley
Acoustic Kleen for
recently cleaning the carpet by the
restrooms at the 3rd St. entrance, the
carpet in the Adult Sunday School
and the carpet in the Kathryn’s Kloset
area at NO COST to the church.
Getting to know the Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship
Why a New Hymnal?
The Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship, the cranberry hymnal, was published in October,
2006. Why a new hymnal? The Introduction on pp. 6 -7 states, “The Christian assembly
worship in the midst of an every-changing world. And because the worship that constitutes the
church is also a fundamental expression of the mission of God in the world, worship is
regularly renewed in order to be both responsible and responsive to the world that the church
is called to serve.” The church is always in the process of translating the gospel into the
vernacular. The green hymnal switched from “Thee” and “Thou” to “You” and “Your” when
praying to God.
continued
continued
This hymnal expands our worship language by using a variety of biblical images for God. All 150
Psalms in the book are a fresh translation by biblical scholars from our seminaries and
elsewhere. Luther’s Small Catechism (pp. 1160 – 1167 of the hymnal) was translated by Timothy
Wengert in 2000. These and other changes are done to make this worship resource fresh and
timely.
Why are there Ten Liturgy Settings in the New Hymnal?
There are 10 musical settings to the basic text used for Holy Communion in our new hymnal. Why
so many? The Introduction to ELW (P. 7) states, “A growing awareness of the interrelatedness of
the world, coupled with new understandings of the world’s diverse cultures, has had implications
also for the church as the one body of Christ throughout the world. The use of language
continues to develop in response to context and societal change, as does the use of more than
one language in worship. Forms of musical expression have blossomed, and churches have
embraced many of these forms for use in worship.” The 10 musical settings reflect this
diversity. Congregations may choose the musical setting which they feel are best for
them. African American Lutherans may choose setting 6 which includes music from their heritage.
Spanish speaking Lutherans might choose the Spanish words and music of Setting 7 (pp. 175 –
183). Congregations with a “contemporary service” might choose Setting 8 (pp. 184 – 192) which
presents the most well-known examples from the recent generation of this type of music together
with music especially composed for ELW. The intent is to offer diversity and yet have a basic
unity as we worship one Lord.
Some New Terminology in Our New Hymnal
Our new hymnal uses the word “assembly” instead of “congregation”. Why? It’s because the
Lutheran confessions describe the church in terms of the worshipping assembly. Article VII of the
Augsburg Confession states “It is taught that at all times there must be and remain one holy,
Christian church. It is the assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached
and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel.” “Assembly” expresses well
the nature of the church as ecclesia, a Greek biblical word for the church, that has at its root the
meaning “called out”. The word “assembly” is also practical. Not everyone attending worship on a
Sunday morning is a member of the congregation. Some are inquirers; some are visitors from
other congregations. The word “assembly” includes them. The book is also used in the settings
of a college campus, retreats, or church gatherings where people from many congregations are
represented.
Art and Pictures in our New Hymnal
You may have noticed that there are many visuals in our new hymn book. There are 8
frontispieces commissioned especially for this volume: The Church Year (p. 12), Holy
Communion (p. 89), Holy Baptism (p. 223), Lent and the Three Days (p. 245), Life Passages (p.
271), Daily Prayer (p. 293), the Psalms (p. 333), and Service Music and Hymns (#151). These
add visual meaning to our hymnal and help us to navigate the volume easily. Consider the
frontispiece for Holy Baptism (p. 223). The water is wavy, indicating immersion. The candidate is
being pulled up out of the water and two people are waiting with a towel and a garment. Some are
holding candles. The background has four pictures: Moses commanding water from a rock, a
rising sun (suggesting creation or Jesus’ resurrection on Easter morning). Noah’s ark and the
rainbow, and Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. The backdrop is octagonal suggesting
the 8th day. All of these images remind us of biblical connections to Holy Baptism.
GOT LABELS?
Social Ministry is collecting UPC labels and lids and caps to be sent to the ELCA Rocky Boy’s
Reservation in Box Elder, MT. A collection box is located on the top shelf above the mailboxes in the
hallway adjacent to the Church Office. Please help us out by cutting out the UPC or saving the lids
and caps on the items below. This will be an ongoing outreach mission collection.
Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, Brief Overview
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation provides a home for about 4,500 members of the Chippewa-Cree
tribe. One story has it that the name "Rocky Boy" was derived from the name of a leader of a band of
Chippewa Indians. It actually meant "Stone Child," but it was not translated correctly from Chippewa
into English, and the name "Rocky Boy" evolved. The reservation is near the Canadian border, in
northcentral Montana. It is graced by the Bear Paw Mountains, which provide dramatic contrast to the
flat bottomland of the area. The Chippewa and Cree were among the last tribal groups to come into
Montana. Both tribes originally lived in the Great Lakes region. Late in the nineteenth century, the
Chippewa came from Turtle Mountain country in North Dakota. This was after the reservation system
was in existence, and they felt they had been not treated fairly during treaty negotiations. The Cree
are of Canadian descent and along with their allies were a major force on the Great Plains. Initially
the tribe had a monopoly on guns and horses, which gave them a great advantage over the other
tribes. As with the other tribes, small pox devastated the Cree. The two groups refused to settle on a
reservation and led a nomadic life. The Cree were deported to Canada but later returned to Montana.
The tribes remained homeless and fell on hard times. Finally, in 1916 Rocky Boy's Reservation was
established near Havre. The tribes today are inter-mixed and use the name "Chippewa-Cree."
UPC CODES
Campbell’s Soups – all kinds and microwave
bowls (specially marked packages)
Campbell’s Kitchen Classic, Chef’s Kettle,
Gourmet Bisques
Campbell’s Soup At Hand
Campbell’s Chunky Chili – cans and
microwave bowls
Campbell’s Chunky Soups – cans and
microwave bowls
Campbell’s Healthy Request Soups
V-8 V-Fusion Juice Drink Boxes, 8 pack - all
Campbell’s Soup and Recipe Mix
Campbell’s Beans
Campbell’s Gravies – all
Campbell’s Tomato Juice - any size or flavor
Franco-American Gravies – any size
Dannon Yogurt –
Dananimals – Crunchers, Smoothies,
Squeezables, SuperStar Greek
Danonino
Emerald –Nut canisters, Yogurt Bites, 100
Calorie Packs, Breakfast on the Go,
Glazed nuts, Trail Mix
Pepperidge Farms
Baked Natural Crackers, Goldfish
Crackers, Graham Crackers
Breads, Croutons, Roll & Stuffing
Cookies
Frozen Garlic Bread, 3-Layer Cake, Puff
Pastry, Turnovers
Post Brand Cereal and Treats
Spaghetti-O’s – Original, Ravioli, Fun Pasta
Shapes, With Meatballs
Pop Secret Popcorn – all varieties, 3 count,
4 count, 6 count and 10 count packages
LIDS & CAPS
V-8 Juices – Vegetable, V-Fusion, Splash,
Splash Smoothies
Pace – Picante Sauce, Salsas, Pace Specialty
Items
Prego Sauces
The Feste Burg
“A Mighty Fortress,” the hymn written by
Protestant reformer Martin Luther in 1529, is
powerful in English but even better in its
original German. Historian Michael Streich
notes that Luther compares God not only to a
fortress but to a completely secure
stronghold, or Feste Burg.
“A burg was a fortified town,” Streich says.
“When invaders approached, the surrounding
populace fled to the safety of the walls” —
sometimes to layers of walls within walls.
Luther’s hymn compares God to the most
powerful of all burgs, with eternally
unbreakable walls.
When we need a place of refuge, God offers
his Mighty Fortress, his Feste Burg. Within
this refuge, with our value based on our
relationship to God rather than on earthly
achievements, we’ll never be put to shame.
Inside this fortified town, the God who desires
an eternal relationship with us delivers,
rescues and saves us.
—Homiletics
Daily Scripture
Reading
October 1
October 2
October 3
October 4
October 5
October 6
October 7
October 8
October 9
October 10
October 11
October 12
October 13
October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
Colossians 3:12-17
John 14:6-11
Judges 4
Judges 6:11-18
Judges 16:1-6
John 3:1-21
Philippians 3:1-11
Luke 1:46-56
Exodus 2:1-10
Ruth 1:6-2:13
1 Samuel 16:6-13
Luke 2:22-35
Luke 5: 27-32
1 Timothy 4:6-16
Genesis 8:20-9:17
Nehemiah 1:4-2:8
1 Samuel 14:1-23
MEMBERS: Jane Galow; John Hendricks; Judy
Hoffman; Heidi Kerchoff; Esther Bartholomew;
Andrea Watt
PRAYER REQUEST: Troy Gallo; Jen
Daddario; Romayne Bartholomew; Jack Hetrick;
Betsy Smeltz; Lynn Lowery; Beulah Fanning;
Jimmy Gordon; Jeff Fasold; Gary and Rita Lenig;
George Groff; Misi Lucas; Woodrow Klinger;
William Wagner; Karen Gerst; Joan Rebuck;
Tina Reichenbach; Daniel Lyons; Beverly
Windus; Betty Leitzel; Marlyn Deihl; Steve and
Rose Brungard; Darvin Straub.
HOMEBOUND AND SPECIAL PRAYERS: Arlet
Hummel; Dave Eisely; Lorraine Weaver; Phyllis
Gordon Ruth Ramer; Nancy Hendricks; Fietta
Osman; Sally Mayer; Helen Snyder; Mike Payne;
Kate Billman; Shirley Wolfe; Frances Rohrbach;
Carol Diehl; Polly Hetrick; Betty Yerg; Elaine
Kohl; Robyn Snyder; Dave Roush; Franklin
Hoffman; Catherine Broome; Harold Billman;
Sally Diehl; Julia Tiedman; Tina Pontius; Jan
Albertson; June Seebold; John Kistner; Margaret
Rantz; Joshua Gordon; Harold Reid; Joyce
Shearer; Connie Lahr; Steve Lahr; Zachery
Baker; Carol Wilks; Pauline Spigelmeyer; Jodi
Graybill; Brittany Graybill.
Pray for our military
Logan Brouse; Colton Brouse; Kale Gallo;
Jeremy Hoffman; Wyatt Kohl.
We could learn a lot from crayons:
Some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some have weird
names, and all are different colors …
but they all exist very nicely together
in the same box.
—Robert Fulghum
Thursday, October 2
Sunday, October 5
Monday, October 6
Wednesday, October 8
Thursday, October 9
Friday, October 10
Saturday, October 11
Monday, October 13
Thursday, October 23
Worship & Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Blanket Sunday
Meet & Greet with Pastor Fitch
following the 8:00 and 10:15
services, Adult Sunday School Room
Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Messenger deadline, 3:00 p.m.
Social Ministry Committee, 6:00 p.m.
Set up for Fishing Tournament, 1:00 p.m.
Fishing Tournament, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
WELCA, 7:00 p.m.
Ham Dinner, Grace Lutheran Church, 120 Spruce Street,
Sunbury, $9 Adults, Children $4.50, under 5 eat free
Ham, macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, dessert &
beverage
September 21, 2014
8:00 a.m. Service – 29 10:15 a.m. Service – 68
Offering needed weekly to meet budget: $3462.00
Offering received: $2376.00
September 28, 2014
8:00 a.m. Service – 42 10:15 a.m. Service –46
Offering needed weekly to meet budget: $3462.00
Offering received: $2856.00
Periodicals
Postage Paid
Sunbury, PA
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857
Periodical postage paid at Northumberland, PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to St. John’s Messenger,
300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER
October 1, 2014
Volume 94, Issue 20
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
sjelc300@ptd.net
Address Label
This Sunday at St. John’s
October 5, 2014
Rev. Andrew Fitch, Interim Pastor
Meet & Greet following both services, Adult Sunday School
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Next Sunday at St. John’s
October 12, 2014
Rev. Dr. Ronald Shellhamer
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Church Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Rev. Andrew Fitch, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music