ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Maytown, Pennsylvania

The Rev. Robert M. Lescallette, Pastor

Keith Smith, Organist and Choirmaster

Janet Mohr, Junior Choir Leader

Charlie Johns, Vicki McConnell and JoNan Shirk Youth Leaders

Diane Leonard, Parish Secretary

Becky Fleckenstein, Parish Sexton

www.stjohnsmaytown.com

The Seventh Sunday of Easter                                                    April 27, 2008  MAY 04/2008

The Sunday after the Ascension of Our Lord                                   10:30 am

Today’s Service Employs the BLUE Hymnal.

THE ORGAN PRELUDE - “Morning Has Broken”                                  L. Smith           

THE ENTRANCE HYMN – #678 “Christ has Arisen, Alleluia”                         

                                                                                                                       Sung standing

THE INVOCATION

THE CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION - pp. 10-11                                  Right Column

        P = Pastor     C = All

THE KYRIE - p. 28                                                                             Sung three times.

        1^st    time through A = Pastor

        2^nd time through A = Margie Landis

        3^rd   time through A = Choir

THE HYMN OF PRAISE - pp. 29-30

        I = Pastor     II = Keith

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY                                             All sit following the prayer.

THE FIRST READING – Acts 1:6-14

THE YOUTH CHOIR ANTHEMS

        “Anytime, Anywhere”                                                                          D. Phillips

        “All Creatures Great and Small”                                        Spurr & McNeil

        “God Is Bigger”                                                                                       P. Vischer

VOCAL SOLO - Amy Chapman

THE SECOND READING - I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

THE GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION - p. 31 General                              Sung standing.

THE GOSPEL – John 17:1-11                                           All sit following the Gospel.

THE HYMN OF THE DAY - #756 “Lord, You Give the Great Commission”   

THE SERMON

THE NICENE CREED - pp. 32-33                                                 Confessed standing.

THE PRAYERS

        “…God of life,”            response - “hear our prayer”.

THE PEACE                                                                         All sit, following the Peace.

THE ORGAN OFFERTORY - “Serenity”                                                  H. Kihlken

THE OFFERINGS                                                                Regular and World Hunger

THE OFFERTORY – p. 35                                                                        Sung standing.

THE PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS – p. 35                                               Right Column.               

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING - p. 36

        The Preface

        The Sanctus – p. 36 “Holy, Holy, Holy”

The Prayer of Thanksgiving - p. 37                                          Right column.

The Lord’s Prayer - Traditional

The Agnus Dei - p. 39 “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 –

                    #780 “What A Fellowship”

                    #754 “Let Us Talents and Tongues”

                    #741 “Thy Holy Wings”

                    #710 “One Bread, One Body”                                                                   

THE BLESSING                                                                                                        All rise.

THE CANTICLE – p. 40 “Thankful Hearts”

THE PRAYER - p. 41                                                                                Prayed by All.

THE BLESSING - p. 41

THE DISMISSAL - p. 41

THE RECESSIONAL HYMN– #781 “My Life Flows On”                                                         

THE SILENT PRAYER

THE ORGAN POSTLUDE - “Recessionale”                                                 G. Blake

THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR

… are given in honor of Pat and Bill’s 34^th Wedding Anniversary.

                                                                                                                 By the Vogels

THE BULLETINS

…are given to the glory of God.                                                  By Esther Brown

           his Week at St. John’s

              Today                 9:15 am      Sunday School and Last Catechetics

                                        10:30 am      Traditional Communion Service with

                                                                  Youth Choir Anthems and Solo by

                                                                  Amy Chapman

                                             Noon      After Church for Lunch Bunch

                                                                  outing to Jewish Food Festival

            Monday             7:00 pm      Council Meeting

            Tuesday                6:30 pm      Praise Band Rehearsal

                                           7:30 pm      Bible Study with Jo and Carol

            Wednesday     10:00 am      Bible Study at Longwood

                                          8:00 pm      Senior Choir Practice

            Saturday         10:00 am      Rehearsal for Confirmation followed

                                                                  by Pizza Hut Luncheon                               

            Next Sunday      9:15 am      Sunday School

                                        10:30 am      Pentecost Communion Service with

                                                                  Confirmation and special music -

                                                                  plus, Mother’s Day chocolate

                                             Noon      Reception in Honor of Confirmands

JEWISH FOOD ANYONE?

Ever adventurous, the ACFLB van will head for Temple Beth El at noon today to sample a Jewish Food Festival’s offerings.  There is room for 13 on the van.  Join us!  The meal costs $11.

YOUTH GROUP RUMMAGE SALE: UPDATE

 Our annual Youth Group Rummage Sale, scheduled for Saturday May 24^th 8am-1pm and Monday May 26^th 8am - 12 noon, is fast approaching. For a successful sale, we need YOU as donators, helpers, and customers!

As donated items come in, we are sorting, boxing, and labeling them before storing them behind the Ark downstairs. We’d like to encourage you to bring in your donations now, so we can avoid the typical last minute rush. Please place your new, gently used or collectible items on the receiving table in front of the Ark. Our goal is to do as much of the work as early as possible so we may have a preview sale for church members and friends on Friday evening May 23^rd from 7pm to 9pm.

If you would like to help, need more information, or would like an item pick-up, please contact Vicki or Sheri.          Thank you for your support!

We are in desperate need of boxes with lids or flaps that can be folded in to make closed tops, to store rummage sale items as we sort and label…medium to medium large boxes would be good.  Thanks.

ALICE AT RHEEMS NURSING HOME

Alice Leas has left the hospital and moved into the nursing home in Rheems.  Drop by and say hello!  Her address there is:

            Alice Leas

            Rheems Nursing Center, Room #121

            Rheems, PA 17570

            Phone Number: 367-3550

BIBLE STUDY

…will meet at 7:30 pm.  Please read chapters 2 and 3 of 1 Peter for this Tuesday.  Come each Tuesday to be enlightened and inspired.

LOOKING AHEAD/DATES TO REMEMBER

May 12                 1:15 pm        Bingo and Sundae Party at Cherry Street Home

May 15              7:00 pm        VBS Organizational meeting

May 16                6:30 pm        A.L.I.V.E. Youth Night

May 24 to May 26 Memorial Day Weekend                                                         

                            8:00 am        Memorial Day Flea Market

                            4:00 pm        Float judging

                            5:00 pm        Parade

                                                    - no musicale this year

June 1                   9:15 am        Last Children’s Sunday School class

June 13-14                                 Synod Assembly

June 15             10:30 am        Youth Service and Father’s Day

June 23              6:00 pm        Luther Acres Bingo Party

July 16                 7:30 pm        Healing Service

July 28 to August 1                 Vacation Bible School

August 3          10:30 am        Church Picnic

LEADERSHIP TRAINING CAMP - LT CAMP

Thanks to a generous annual grant provided by Gordon and Sandy Lamb, our synod offers free of charge to young leaders in this synod. Interested youth in grades nine through 12 must be recommended by a pastor or youth leader to gain admission into this annual week-long experience. Registration for LT Camp 2008 will open in March 2008. Applications will appear on this site WWW.lss-elca.org and will be mailed to congregations.

A NICE WAY OF HELPING OUR CHURCH

…face the cost of repairing our historic belfry came from a lay member of St. John’s.   They suggested that everyone who will receive a payment from the Government to “jump start” the economy be encouraged to give a portion of those un-planned-for-funds to the church’s Building Fund.  Think about it, please.

NEW CERTIFICATES IN PROCESS

Diane Leonard is preparing new Confirmation certificates which will be given to our 2008 Confirmation Class and all subsequent classes.  The certificates will use a traditional “Fraktur” type of folk art that harkens back to our Pennsylvania German roots and which will also be unique to our congregation.  Hopefully, comfirmands will want to frame the certificates and proudly display them in their homes.  We thank Diane for sharing her artistry with us.

VBS 2008

Charlie Johns and the Christian Education committee are looking for about 30 adults and older youth to help lead this year’s rainforest themed Bible School from July 28 through August 1 - 6:15 pm to 8:40 pm.  If you will help, talk to Charlie, Missy Chapman or Pastor - or sign-up on the sheet in the narthex.  Our organizational meeting will be on May 15^th at 7:00 pm.

ATTENTION CONFIRMATION CLASS!

1.        We will rehearse for next Sunday’s Rite at church on Saturday at 10 am.  It would be good for parents and mentors to attend also, so they know what to do.

2.       Pick up your confirmation robes from pastor TODAY and see that they are ironed.

3.        After Saturday’s practice, Pastor will treat you to lunch at Pizza Hut.

4.       After next Sunday’s service, the women of the church - WELCA will host a reception in your honor.

5.       Do not disrobe until after a group photo is taken for the archives.

6.        Give pastor or Diane Leonard your used robe before you go home so that it may be returned promptly without a late fee.

erving God’s People Today

   Lector – Bob Frank

                        Acolytes – William Weller and Gabrielle Thomas

                        Crucifer – Samuel Thomas

                        Head Usher – no one signed up

                        Altar Care – Ginny Zimmerman   

                        Flowers – Pat and Bill Vogel

                        Bulletins – Esther Brown

                        Greeter – Judy Purnell

                        Offering Counters – Wayne Hoffmann, Vicki McConnell,

                                                                            and Ryan Boccagno

A WORD TO THE FAITHFUL AND THE WISE

This year, we shall confirm a class of eight on Pentecost, May 11^th.  That day is also Mother’s Day.  Families that plan on honoring mom with a meal out on May 11 should make sure that reservations at restaurants are made to be late enough so you can also attend our full festival service and attend the reception in the Confirmands’ honor afterwards.  The service may not be completed until noon or slightly later; the reception lasts as long as you wish.   Figure on leaving from church about 12:30 pm or so.

erving God’s People Next Week - May 11^th  

Lector – Ryan Boccagno

Acolytes – Chris Chapman

Crucifer – Amber Smith

                        Head Usher – no one signed up

                        Altar Care – Ginny Zimmerman   

                        Flowers – Ernest and Vernetta Wallander

                        Bulletins – no one

                        Greeter – Louise Baker

                        Offering Counters – Wayne Hoffmann, Vicki McConnell,

                                                                            and Ryan Boccagno

CAPE COD CONGREGATIONAL TRIP - One Week Left To Sign-up!!

We need 52 to fill the bus.  So far, 49 people have signed-up for our September 18-21 bus trip to Cape Cod.  The deadline for signing-up is May 11, 2008.  When you sign-up, a $75 deposit should be given to either Jan Shelly, Connie Longenecker or Pastor.  The balance of $314 is due August 3, 2008.  See details on the tower sheet or talk to a Fellowship Committee member.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We are in need of a few people to help inventory and record our church’s contents for insurance purposes.  If you will help, talk to Pastor or Chairman Andy Moss as soon as possible.  A great summer job!

LADIES

.....St. John's will be having a Woman's Retreat October 24 - 26.   We will leave Friday evening and return Sunday afternoon. Questions see JoNan or Carol....more details will follow at a later date.

STATS FOR APRIL GIVING

*the Building Fund surplus is due to the Marx Estate contribution to go to the Belfry Project.

BELFRY PROJECT

Envelopes for the Belfry Project have been placed in today’s bulletin for your convenience.

…to Chris and Mark Harnish for spending two days, weeding and raking at the parsonage, and to Gordy Nell for sprucing up the curb area.  It looks great!

…to Vicki McConnell and Paul Purnell for accompanying Pastor to a pre-Synod assembly meeting in Lancaster last Sunday.

…to everyone who contributed to the 1,068 bars of soap and 33 handmade quilts that seven of us took down to the Lutheran World Relief warehouse in New Windsor, Maryland last Monday.

…to George Desmond, whose “thank you” gift to Pastor, of $250, for our ministry to Longwood Manor, was given to the Belfry Project.

…to Amy Chapman for her beautiful solo today.

CONGRATULATIONS

…to Judy and Paul Purnell at the news of the birth of a Grandson last week.

GERANIUMS

Today is the last day to order your geraniums for Pentecost next Sunday.  Please give your form and payment to Diane or place it in the “Diane Box” on the shelf in the outer office today.