St.
John’s Evangelical Lutheran ChurchSt.
John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Maytown, Pennsylvania
The Rev. Robert M. Lescallette, Pastor
Keith Smith, Organist And Choirmaster
Charlie Johns, Vicki McConnell and JoNan Shirk Youth Leaders
Diane Leonard, Parish Secretary
Becky Fleckenstein, Parish Sexton
The Epiphany of Our Lord January 6, 2008
The Festival of the Magi 10:30 am
This Service Employs the
Green Hymnal
Unless Otherwise Noted.
THE OPENING HYMN – #84 “Brightest and Best” Sung standing.
THE GREETING – p. 57
THE KYRIE – pp. 57-58
THE HYMN OF PRAISE - #71 “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Sing verse 1, then the next verse printed below,
then verse 3, omit verse 2 in the book.
New Verse 2 Magi, Shepherds, you and I:
Let us lift our voices high.
Heed the glory in the sky;
To Christ’s crib let all draw nigh!
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY See insert, all sit following the prayer.
THE FIRST READING – Isaiah 60:1-6
THE ANTHEM – “I Will Joyfully Sing” M. McDonald
THE SECOND READING – Ephesians 3:1-12
THE CELTIC ALLELUIA Sung standing.
THE HOLY GOSPEL – Matthew 2:1-12
THE HYMN OF THE DAY - #82 “As With Gladness Men of God”
THE SERMON
THE APOSTLES’ CREED – p. 65 Confessed standing.
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
…”God of grace and truth…hear our prayer.”
THE PEACE All sit following the exchange of the Peace.
THE OFFERTORY MUSIC – “Lullaby – Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head”
arr. R. Wilson
THE OFFERINGS Regular and World Hunger
THE OFFERTORY FOR EPIPHANY – Hymn #40 “What Child is This”
Verse 3 only, sung standing.
THE PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS – p. 68 top
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Preface – p. 68
The Sanctus – p. 69 “Holy, Holy, Holy”
The Prayer of Thanksgiving for Epiphany Not in your hymnal.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Agnus Dei - p. 72 “Lamb of God”
The Distribution Standing, continuous, by intinction.
Come forward via the center aisle; receive the Host (wafer) from the Pastor; dip the Host in the Chalice held by the Deacon; and return to your pew via the side aisle on “your” side of the church. The choir communes first; then the Christ Window side of the church; then the Luther Side; then the Balcony; and finally the servers.
All who are baptized and who believe that the Risen Christ is present in this communion, bestowing upon the faithful His strength, salvation, and forgiveness, are welcome to our altar. The un-baptized and those who do not wish to commune may come forward for a blessing or remain in their pews.
THE HYMNS SUNG DURING COMMUNION –
#75 “Bright and Glorious is the Sky”
#56 “The First Noel”
#67 “Away in A Manager”
THE BLESSING All rise.
THE CANTICLE – p. 72 “Thank the Lord”
THE PRAYER – p. 74
THE BENEDICTION
PASTOR: Be attentive to the Glory of God,
As to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until God’s day dawns.
And the Morning Star rises in your hearts.
Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Bless you now and forever.
ALL: AMEN.
THE DISMISSAL
PASTOR: Go in Peace.
Share the good news!
PEOPLE: Thanks be to God.
THE CLOSING HYMN – “We Three Kings of Orient Are” See page 4.
THE SILENT PRAYER
THE
ORGAN POSTLUDE – ”Come, All Ye Shepherds” arr. S. E. Rogers
THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
…are given to the Glory of God By The Weller family
THE BULLETINS
…are to the Glory of God and in honor of Jamey and Jenniffer Shirk's 37th birthday. Love, JoNan
THE SYMPATHY OF THE CONGREGATION
…is extended to Jan Shelly, whose step-mother Edna, died this past week. May Easter peace enfold all.
HIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S – January 6 to 13, 2008
Today 9:15 am Sunday School and Catechetics
10:30 am Epiphany Communion Service
Noon dismantling of Christmas
decorations
Monday 7:00 pm Council meeting
Tuesday 6:30 pm Praise band
7:00 pm Maytown Historical Society
7:30 pm Church leader’s Bible study
Wednesday 10:00 am Bible Study at Longwood
6:45 pm Junior Choir Practice
7:30 pm Senior Choir Practice
Next Sunday 9:15 am Sunday School and Catechetics
10:30 am Traditional Service
noon ACFLB
HELP!!!
We really need folks to stay after church today – or rush home to change and come back quickly to church – in order to take down all our Christmas decorations. Thanks for lending us a hand. No eperience necessary!!
THE MAYTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
…invites you to attend their program meeting at our church on Tuesday at 7:45 pm. Linda Good’s Maytown School class will be on hand to share what they are doing on the town’s architectural history.
FLOWERS AND BULLETIN SPONSORS
New charts have been posted in the tower narthex inviting your sponsorship of altar flowers or bulletins on one or more Sundays of the year. Please sign-up to help share in the cost of these items. You may pay for the flowers or bulletins on the Sunday for which you donated them. If you would like Diane to order flowers for you, you could place a anext to your name and she will automatically do so, (or you could call her at 426-3072 no later than the Monday before your Sunday)…you will still need to let her know what you would like to have in the bulletin for both flowers and bulletins. So far 27 Sundays have no donors for altar flowers. Upcoming Sundays are January 20 and 27; February 3; and March 16, 23, and 30. Very few Sundays have been claimed by bulletin sponsors. Upcoming openings are: January 13 and 20; February 3, 10, and 24; and March 2, 9, 23, and 30.
It is not absolutely essential that we have altar flowers, but bulletins are rather necessary. The church will not take money from savings or “current” to pay for flowers, but we will do so for bulletins, if necessary. Thanks for your support. Any questions, talk to Diane.
HAPPY SWEET 16
…to Angelica Mohr, today!
OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2008
…await you atop the radiator in the tower narthex. Please pick up yours and deliver an absent friend’s, if you haven’t already done so.
ERVING GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY
Lector – Sheri Hafer
Acolytes – Willy Weller and Kristen Sipling
Crucifer – Amy Chapman
Head Usher – Dick Baker
Altar Care – Louise Baker
Flowers – The Weller family
Bulletins – JoNan Shirk
Greeter – Gladys Ney
Offering Counters – Shirl Reich, Pat Vogel, &
Vicki McConnell
THANKS TO ALL FINANCIAL LEADERS
…Shirl, Karen, Jim and Joyce for all their hard work in these recent days as one fiscal year ends and another begins. Thanks for all your extra hours of toil.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22ND
…is the deadline for getting articles into the Lent-Easter edition of the parish newsletter. The letter covers February and March. I can’t believe it’s
that time already!!!
LENTEN
SUPPER 2008
If we are again to offer a series of Lenten suppers to our family in Christ groups, families, and individuals are needed to host the events. Hosts provide homemade soup, sandwich and optional dessert – plus beverage…or maybe a stew, fancy salad, or casserole! They also serve the meal and clean up. You may either donate the food or seek reimbursement from the night’s free will offering. We ask that meals be served at 6:00 pm sharp, each Wednesday in Lent – except for Ash Wednesday and Holy Wednesday. Plan on feeding 50-60 folks. A sign-up sheet hangs in the tower narthex. Deadline for signing up is January 20th.
THE CHURCH THANKS
…the Hossler family for a Christmastide gift to the current fund, in loving memory of Paul Hossler, Sr. from his wife, Phyllis, children Paul, Phil, Palmer, and Portia, their spouses, Elaine, Becky, and Kay, and many grandchildren.
PAPERWORK HAS BEEN SIGNED AND NOTARIZED
…regarding the estate of the late Ceil Marx, which names St. John’s as a beneficiary. Sometime in 2008, after all legalities have been completed, we shall receive a gift of $10,027 from our late sister. The church is blessed by those who continue to serve her even beyond death. All St. Johners are asked to consider including the congregation in their wills.
THE 2008 LECTOR LISTS
…have been distributed. Thanks to our 12 lectors – including two new volunteers – Ryan Boccagno and Jamey Shirk.
ALL
CHURCH LEADERS
…who attended the Visioning Workshop in November – and anyone else in the congregation – is reminded of your invitation to attend a Bible Study on Acts which is held each Tuesday at 7:30 PM, in the parlor, and which is led by JoNan Shirk and Carol Bachert.
ERVING GOD’S PEOPLE NEXT WEEK – January 13, 2008
Lector – Glenn Bachert
Acolytes – Alex Smith
Crucifer – Amber Smith
Head Usher – Dick Baker
Altar Care – Louise Baker
Flowers – Nancy Diem
Bulletins – no one
Greeter – Ginny Zimmerman
Offering Counters – Shirl Reich, Pat Vogel, &
Vicki McConnell
SYG - DETAILS OF OUR GROUP GOING TO CREATIONFEST 2008
The St John’s Lutheran Church Jr. & Sr. Youth Group’s are going to CreationFest this June 2008. Our mission is to encourage and enjoy each other in our relationship with the living God and each other. We choose to have fun with each other, appreciate each other's gifts, and rejoice in our Creator!
Motivational speakers and musical bands from all over the world talk about vital
and relevant issues in today's youth culture and how to handle the issues from a
biblical perspective.
Families, friends, groups, and couples go camping for a week in the mountains of Pennsylvania. The quiet atmosphere of the valley farmland makes the camping experience a real pleasure.
Nights around the campfire after hearing world-renowned bands on main stage are refreshing, and help bond true friendships created for a lifetime.
Buy your tickets or make your deposit early. - They are cheaper the sooner you buy them. Join our group early since space is limited. – Let us know by 01/27/2008.
All youth must have St. John’s Lutheran Church 2008 General Permission Forms filled out in full and signed and returned. All youth of St. John’s Lutheran Church and leaders will be paid in full ($115.00 each.) If you say you are going and then back out you will be asked to refund the total cost or have someone from the youth group take your place. How to participate with our group - Inquire, sign up, and prepay!! $115.00 by 01/27/2008. We are only ordering 20 tickets, unless more sign up by this date.
Women of the ELCA
January 14th at 7 PM we will begin our new year with a meeting in the social hall. Every female member of the congregation is welcome to participate in this fellowship for learning, service and support. Come join us for an evening of devotions, planning and fellowship. Upcoming events are hosting a Lenten Meal and the annual candy egg making project. Ginny Zimmerman will lead the devotions and Vicki McConnell will serve as hostess for the evening.
CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH NOW THROUGH EASTER
Join the adult Sunday school class as we begin a new curriculum, “Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth” based on Richard J. Foster’s bestselling book. Learn how the classic Christian Disciplines (such as meditation, prayer, fasting, simplicity, solitude and service) can open your heart to the transforming grace of God.
We will be using Celebration of Discipline’s dynamic DVD, Bible study, and small group exercise format, and would love to have you join us for any or all of our hour long sessions. If you have questions or might be interested in leading a session, please contact Sheri Hafer.
HOW’D WE DO IN 2007
December was, again, a month in which our people again displayed a generosity in giving which did much to help our financial situation, People gave about 2-3 times what was given in previous months. Total income was $26,808. First, the bad news: we fell short of our commitment to the Synod and ELCA by $1,801. We missed our building fund goal by $3,022 in a year when property expenses “went through the roof” with more bills due early in 2008. Now, the good news: we exceeded our goal for World Hunger by 4372. Determining how we stand with the “current” or “operating” budget is less clear. It depends o how you count income. Clearly, we did not meet our budgetary goals by over $10,000; but when one compares income to actual expenses, the situation is much better. There, it looks like we “only” missed the mark by $3,428 – although, again, this figure is not necessarily absolute. Thanks to all who continue to give generously so that this church and her ministry can continue.