ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
MAYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Keith Smith, Organist and Choirmaster
Janie Mohr, Junior Choirmaster
Vicki McConnell and Charlie Johns, Junior Youth Ministry
Diane Leonard, Parish Secretary
Becky Fleckenstein, Parish Sexton
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot (1153)
August 20, 2006, 9:30 AM
Today,
we worship using a
service of the Word and
Green Hymnal.
THE OPENING HYMN – #249 “God Himself is Present”
Sung Standing.
THE PSALMODY - #34:9-14 See insert and read responsively.
THE PRAYERS OF THE DAY See insert.
And
PASTOR: Lord Jesus Christ,
Your church remembers this day, Bernard, Abbot of the Monastery at Clairvaux, who helped your people a thousand years ago, appreciate the mystery and the beauty of our faith, and of you who are veiled in light and love. Raise up among us, today, new leaders, who can walk in Bernard’s holy way, and show us your light anew. In the Sprit, we ask this.
PEOPLE: Amen.
All sit, following the prayers.
THE HYMN – #316 “Jesus, The Very Thought of You”
This is one of six hymns that were written by
St. Bernard and which are in our hymnal.
THE FIRST READING – Proverbs 9:1-6
THE SECOND READING – Ephesians 5:15-20
THE CELTIC ALLELUIA Sung standing.
THE HOLY GOSPEL – John 6:51-58 All sit, following the Gospel.
THE SERMON
The Apostles’ Creed – p. 65 Confessed standing.
All sit following the Creed.
The following Rite was adapted by Pastor Lescallette
from “For Everything A Season”
by the Nilsen Family, Zion Publishing, 1999.
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Would all those who are going off to colleges and technical schools, either for the first time, or again, please come forward with family members, and array yourselves along the communion rail. Please bring your bulletins and Blue hymnals with you.
All do so, with students standing in front, nearest the altar, and families behind and around. When all are in place, Pat introduces each student by asking them to turn to the congregation and tell where they are bound and what their vocational dream might be. When all have spoken, they again face toward the altar.
PAT: Let us pray.
Thank you, God, for the years
Of learning and growing,
Of loving and giving,
We have had together.
We ask your grace upon
These, our sons and daughters,
Who are leaving,
And those who remain behind.
Give us all we need as we move
Into a new stage of life
Separated by space,
And new experiences,
But bound together
In love,
And the faith and life
We share, as your eternal
Family, the church,
In Christ’s name we ask this.
PEOPLE: Amen.
LECTOR: Hear the Word of the Lord, O People:
Psalm 139:7, 9-10 is read.
God promises to hold you fast, in His embrace, and we, your family in Christ promise to do the same. In token of our love for you, we present you with a “care package” of things you can take with you, as you begin your new adventure. May it remind you of God and of us, as we hold you in our prayers.
The gifts are presented.
PAT: Will each of the students please kneel, and will each of their family members, and a member of the wider family, the church, please place their hand upon the head or shoulder of the student, and say along with me, "echoing” my words:
“As you go on your way …echo
May Christ go with you. …echo
May He go before you …echo
To show you the way. …echo
May He go behind you …echo
To encourage you. …echo
Beside you …echo
To befriend you. …echo
Above you …echo
To watch over …echo
Within you …echo
To give you peace.” …echo
THE OFFERTORY – Hymn #564 ”Praise God from Whom”
Sung standing.
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE BENEDICTION
THE DISMISSAL
pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
PEOPLE: Thanks be to God!
THE CLOSING HYMN – #259 “Lord, Dismiss Us”
Students who took part in the Rite are asked to leave during the singing of the hymn and join Pat and the Pastor at the tower door, to be greeted by the exiting congregation.
THE SILENT PRAYER
THE ORGAN POSTLUDE – “March in D” – G. Blake
The flowers
…are given to the Glory of God in honor of my husband Matt’s Birthday. by Shirl Reich
GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY
Traditional Service Lectors – Kelsey Hafer, Annelise Leonhart, and
Kim Nichols
Contemporary Service Lector – Mark Harnish
Acolyte – Willie Weller
Head Usher – JoNan Shirk
Altar Care – JoNan Shirk
Greeter – Alice and Rose Leas
Snack Host – Gladys Ney
A WISH OF GODSPEED
These students who are members and/or participants in St. John’s congregational life are returning to college or going to college for the first time. We would like to honor their achievements and which them Godspeed.
Natalie Ebersole PSU, University Park
Chad Funk Central Penn College
Kelsey Hafer Schreyer Honors College, PSU,
University Park
Chris Hoffman PSU, University Park
Annelise Leonhart Temple University
Amanda McConnell Wartburg Theological Lutheran
Seminary
George Joseph McConnell Lenoir Rhyne College
Heather Nichols PSU, University Park
Kim Nichols Chestnut Hill College
Berlin Smith Elizabethtown College
Valerie Weller Harrisburg Area Community College
Thanks to Sheri Hafer for handling the invitations and to our Social Ministry ladies for donating remembrance gifts.
THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S:
Today 10:30 AM Snack n’ Talk time – in Parlor
10:45 AM Contemporary All Music Service
Noon After Church for Lunch Bunch
No New Member/Inquirer Class
Wednesday Pastor back to work?
No Praise Band rehearsal
Thursday 7:00 PM Christian Education meeting
Next Sunday 10:30 AM Joint Outdoor Service in Cemetery Grove with Maytown Reformed Church – Pastor Rader preaching
11:30 AM Lemonade and Cookies!
Noon After Church for Lunch Bunch
7:00 PM New Member/Inquirer Class
“Holy Communion and Worship”
SENIOR CHOIR PICNIC
…will be held at the Smith’s, Wednesday night, August 30th at 6:30PM. Bring a lawn chair and a friend!!
PASTOR ON EMERGENCY LEAVE
Pastor Lescallette left for Florida on the 8th where he and his sister will help their dad move from West Palm Beach to Harrisburg. Mr. Lescallette (Senior) is a recent widower who has several health issues and no support network in the South.
Pastor Bob will be driving his dad and his car and belongings north, arriving sometime on the 20th or 21st. He then must help settle his dad into a new apartment and will likely be back to work, here, on the 23rd.
Distance makes it impossible for him to respond to emergencies here, and Pastor Peirson is also unable to help, due to issues that demand his attention elsewhere. Therefore, if you need a Pastor, call Diane at 426-3072 and she will notify the Maytown Reformed Minister, Rev. Kay Rader.
Most previously scheduled meetings and events will continue to be held unless you hear otherwise from our lay leaders.
Please let Diane know if anyone is hospitalized during this time.
NO NEW MEMBER CLASSES
…will be held until August 27th, due to Pastor’s absence.
ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS!
It is vital that we get together to plan our new Sunday School/Catechetical program that starts on September 10th. Teacher slots need filled, shepherds are needed, artwork must be done, supplies must be ordered, and classrooms must be cleaned, decorated, and readied. If you will help, talk to Missy Chapman and/or come to the meeting in the parlor on Thursday, at 7:00 PM. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
NEXT SUNDAY
…we will continue our tradition of worshiping with the Maytown Reformed Church in the cemetery grove, at 10:30 AM. Pastor Kay Rader will preach, and there will be goodies after the service. Bring a lawn chair or sit on the on-site folding chairs.
THANK YOU
…for all the cards, visits and prayers on my behalf. – John Leas
OH NO! GUESS WHAT!
It’s time for another newsletter. Please have articles relating to fall programming in Diane’s hands (or the mail slot marked “Leonard” in the front office area) by September 1st. Thank you!
Keith – Choir News
Sue F. – Youth Plans
Vicki/Charlie – CIA Plans/Retrospective
Louise/Gladys – Social Ministry News/School Kits
Ruth – WELCA News/Blanket Sunday
Missy – Christian Education News
Pat – President’s Pulpit
Jim/Joyce – Financial Up-date
SERVING GOD’S PEOPLE NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2006
Outdoor Service Lector – Dick Shirk
Acolyte – Kristen Sipling
Head Usher – JoNan Shirk
Altar Care – JoNan Shirk
Flowers – Ginny and Frank Zimmerman
Bulletins – John and Rose Leas