St. 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 Baptism of Our Lord January 13, 2008
First Sunday after Epiphany 10:30 am
A Service in remembrance of Christ’s Baptism and Ours.
This Service Employs the BLUE Hymnal Unless Otherwise Noted.
THE OPENING HYMN – #690 “Shall We Gather at the River”
Sung standing.
THE THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM RITE
PASTOR: Blessed be the Father
And the son,
And the Holy Spirit,
One God,
The fountain of living water,
The rock who gave us birth,
Our light and our salvation.
ALL: Amen.
PASTOR: Joined to Christ in the, waters of baptism,
We are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water is poured into the font.
We give you thanks, O God,
For in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters
And by your Word you created the world,
Calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah
and his family.
Through the sea you led you people Israel from
slavery into freedom.
At the river your Son was baptized by John and
anointed with the Holy Spirit.
By water and your Word you claim us as daughters
and sons, making us heirs of your promise and
servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life,
And above all we praise you for the gift of new life in
Jesus Christ.
Shower us with your Spirit,
And renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace,
and love.
To you be given honor and praise
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
AMEN.
THE HYMN - #770 “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”
As the hymn is sung, Pastor and the acolyte move around the congregation sprinkling all with baptismal water, using a branch of evergreen, symbolic of eternal life with God, in the ancient rite of “Asperges” that helps us to call to mind our own baptisms.
THE GREETING
PASTOR: The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light!
Grace to you, and Peace,
from God who shines among us.
PEOPLE: And also with you.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY See insert, all sit following the prayer.
THE FIRST READING – Isaiah 42:1-9
THE ANTHEM
THE SECOND READING – Acts 10:34-43
THE HALLELUJAH - #612 Sung standing singing twice.
THE HOLY GOSPEL – Matthew 3:13-17
THE HYMN OF THE DAY - #647 “When Jesus Came to Jordan”
THE SERMON
THE HYMN OF RESPONSE - #188 “I Bind Unto Myself Today”
GREEN HYMNAL Sung standing, all sit following the hymn.
THE ORGAN OFFERTORY
THE OFFERING
THE OFFERTORY HYMN - #652 “Arise, Your Light Has Come”
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
“Hear us, o God…YOUR MERCY IS GREAT”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE BENEDICTION
THE DISMISSAL
THE RECESSIONAL HYMN – “Christ, When For Us You Were Baptized”
See page 4.
THE SILENT PRAYER
THE ORGAN POSTLUDE
THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
…are given to the Glory of God. By Nancy Diem
THE BULLETINS
…are to honor Keith Smith for his talent and his dedication to the music program here at St. John’s. Ruth Sweitzer
HIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S – January 13 to 20, 2008
Today 9:15 am Sunday School and Catechetics
10:30 am Traditional Service
Noon After Church for Lunch Bunch
Monday 7:00 pm Property meeting
7:00 pm WELCA
Tuesday 6:30 pm Praise Band Rehearsal
7:30 pm Bible study on Acts
Wednesday 10:00 am Bible Study at Longwood
6:45 pm Junior Choir Practice
7:30 pm Senior Choir Practice
Thursday 7-00 pm Christian Education Committee
Saturday 9:00 am Leadership Visioning Meeting
10:00 am Member Visitation Preparatatory
meeting
Next Sunday 9:15 am Sunday School and Catechetics
10:30 am Contemporary Communion
Service
11:30 am Annual Congregational Meeting
noon After Church for Lunch Bunch
ATTENTION PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
Please make a special effort to attend Monday’s meeting. We have to discuss a major issue with regard to our belfry.
ATTENTION ALL VISIONING WORKSHOP ATTENDEES
Remember to come to church on Saturday at 9 am for a follow-up on our meetings; then if you agreed to help the Evangelism Committee visit recently less active or absent members, go to a 10 am preparatory meeting, which will discuss strategies and begin the ministries.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELP OF CONGREGATION
…to visit and re-activate members is invited to come to a preparatory meeting on Saturday at 10 am. Talk to Pastor if you have a question.
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NOTICE IS OFFICIALLY GIVEN
…of the Annual January
Congregational Meeting, immediately after the morning worship service, at
ABOUT
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THANKS
…to those who stayed after church last Sunday and helped take down the Christmas decorations – giving an hour and a half of their time. Thanks to: Connie Simmons, Dick and Louise Baker, Ruth Sweitzer, George and Vicki McConnell, Pat Kirchner, Sue Young, Bob Long, Mark Harnish and Jamie Sine.
SOUPER
BOWL SUNDAY
The youth of Saint John’s are asking that the congregation support Souper Bowl Sunday on January 27th. What they are asking is for one or more items of non perishable food to be donated to our local food bank. The food bank is requesting jelly, but will accept what ever you bring. Souper Bowl Sunday is usually held the same day as the Super Bowl, but this would conflict with the World Hunger offering. Our goal is to collect 100 items by the first weekend in February with the majority of the items collected on January 27th. Simply put the items in the grocery cart inside the front door or in the box under the mailboxes at the elevator. Feel free to support the food bank year round by placing an item or two in the cart every month if you can.
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 27; 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.
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 – Glenn Bachert
Acolytes – Alex Smith
Crucifer – Amber Smith
Head Usher – Dick Baker
Altar Care – Louise Baker
Flowers – Nancy Diem
Bulletins – Ruth Sweitzer
Greeter – Ginny Zimmerman
Offering Counters – Shirl Reich, Pat Vogel, &
Vicki McConnell
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
Time Frame
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
This Monday, 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.
ERVING GOD’S PEOPLE NEXT WEEK –
January 20, 2008
Contemporary Service
Head Usher – Dick Baker
Ushers – Bob and Wanda Long, Dick and Louise Baker
Altar Care – Louise Baker
Flowers – Jim and Diane Leonard
Bulletins – no one
Greeter – Paul and Judy Purnell
Offering Counters – Shirl Reich, Pat Vogel, &
Vicki McConnell
Dinner and A Movie
Saturday night January 26th, 2008
Dinner served from 5:00 to 6:30 PM.
Movie at 7:00 PM.
Our Youth will be serving
Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans,
bread and dessert
for a donation of $5.00 per person
and enjoy a free movie.
This is to raise money for our Youth
trips and summer camp this summer.
Take a break from pot luck.
Everyone come and everyone come hungry!