ST. JOHN’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
MAYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Keith Smith, Organist and Choirmaster
Charlie Johns, Vicki McConnell and JoNan Shirk Youth Leaders
Diane Leonard, Parish Secretary
Becky Fleckenstein, Parish Sexton
Advent
IV
December 23,
200710:30 AM
Today’s service uses the “Contemporary” format, which means that you will not need to follow a bulletin for the order of worship. Everything you need to know will be flashed on the wall via the overhead projector.
All who are baptized and who believe that Christ is present in this communion are invited to share in the Lord’s Supper.
The un-baptized and those who do not choose to commune may stay seated or come forward for a blessing. Bow your head before Pastor to indicate your desire for a blessing rather than the sacrament.
THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
…are given in memory of Nellie and Lloyd Vogel and James F. Johnstin.
By the Vogels
THE BULLETINS
…are given in honor of the Christ child’s upcoming birth. By the Vogels
AMISH CHRISTMAS FEAST!
On Saturday, the 29th, the Social Ministry and Evangelism Committees…with spouses, will enjoy an Amish dinner at the Fischer farm near the Old Philadelphia Pike. Those going along should be at the church by 5:15pm to form a van-car caravan. The van will pick-up those that request the service from Pastor, starting at 5:00 pm. See Louise if you have a question.
ERVING GOD’S TODAY
Lector – Jack Frank
Head Usher – Charlie Johns
Altar Care – The Vogels
Flowers – The Vogels
Bulletins – The Vogels
Greeters – Dick and Esther Shirk
Offering Counters – Jim Leonard, Linda Sipling &
Ruth Sweitzer
…to Keith’s bother-in-law, Don, for donating our Christmas tree and the greenery.
…to Janie Mohr and Shirl Reich for supplying the wreaths and the pine roping.
…to Pat and Bill Vogel for donating the small trees for the altar and the pine roping.
…to George McConnell, Glenn Bachert, Janelle Weaver, and Charlie Johns for erecting and decorating the Christmas tree.
…to Connie Longenecker and the Fellowship Committee (Paul, Judy, Bill and Jan) for planning and carrying out last Sunday’s GREAT trip to Philly’s Kimmel Center – 42 went along.
…to Sheri Hafer and Carol Bachert for organizing the mitten-cap-scarf drive for the food bank -3 ear muffs, 3 scarves, 5 sets of hats and mittens, 13 hats, 20 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of mittens, and 53 pairs of gloves…thank you to everyone who donated, and to our CIA for donating homemade cookies to the bank.
…to Ryan Boccagno and Jamey Shirk for joining our lector corps n 2008!
…to Bob Frank, Jamey Shirk, Bob Long, Dick Shelly, and Dick Baker for cleaning around the grounds of the church on Wednesday.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR ELEVATOR LOBBY MAILBOX!
Lots of Christmas cards and other stuff can probably be found there.
HIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN’S
Today 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Contemporary Service of
Holy Communion
11:30 am Church decorating begins
6:30 pm Congregational Caroling Party
Monday 6:30 pm Young families’ Christmas Eve
Service with young musicians, Junior
Choir and children’s sermon
9:00 pm Festival Christmas Eve service with
choir and communion
Tuesday A Blessed Christmas To All!!
Saturday 5:15 pm Social Ministry leaves for
Amish Christmas event
Next Sunday 9:15 am Sunday School
10:30 am Traditional Carol Service
noon After Church For Lunch Bunch
HELP!
We all have busy lives with lots to do - especially as Christmas draws near – but we all also love having a beautifully decorated sanctuary for Christmas Eve – and that work isn’t done by Santa and the elves! It takes a work party of about 20 people working for 2-4 hours to do the job – and all are volunteers. How About You Helping This Year? Just come back to church after a quick lunch (or stay after to start) and lend us a hand. Thank you!
TONIGHT! ALL CHURCH CAROLING!
Come to church at 6:30 pm TONIGHT and join your church family as we carol through Maytown’s streets. Dress warmly and bring along a lantern or flashlight. Keith will lead us and music sheets will be provided. Afterwards, the Social Ministry ladies will serve hot chocolate and cookies at the church. Don’t stay at home this year! Join us for a wonderful tradition that is open to all ages, members and friends alike.
A REQUEST FOR AN “EXTRA-MILE” GIFT
As St. John’s nears the end of our fiscal year, it is clear that our income will fall short of our budgetary goals in every category barring a major miracle of the season. The “Current” or “Operating” fund, which pays for all our local expenses, is especially hurting.
Accordingly, Pastor again asks each household in the congregation to give an extra $100 – or more – to St. John’s, in December, if you can afford it, so that we can recover some ground and not have to make so many drastic and painful cuts in the future.
In the past, we have generously responded to similar appeals. Please help us in 2007, if you can. Thank you.
CHRISTMAS
EVE
…we will offer two services. At 6:30 pm families with young children will be treated to music played by several young musicians and sung by the Junior Choir. Pastor will again dress as an animal and tell a Christmas story, carols will be sung, and candles will be lit.
At 9:00 pm, earlier this year, we will hold a Festival Communion Service and hear lots of special music from the choir and Keith, as candles are lit and “Peace, Peace” introduces “Silent Night”.
Join us for either or both services – and fill the church with invited guests!
ERVING GOD’S PEOPLE Christmas Eve – December 24, 2007
Lector – Joyce Boyer
Acolytes – Harry Rehkugler and Samuel Thomas
Crucifer – Ashley Funk
Head Usher – Charlie Johns
Altar Care – The Vogels
Greeters – The Vogels
Offering Counters – Jim Leonard, Linda Sipling &
Ruth Sweitzer
“A
CHRISTMAS CAROL” BIBLE STUDY…
DECEMBER 9, 16, 23, 30
You’ve seen the movie, now join the adult Sunday school class for a Bible study based on Charles Dickens’ classic. Using parts of the movie, we will join Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future to examine selfishness, regret, repentance and salvation. For a spiritual boost to the holiday season, please join us from 9:15 to 10:15 am on Sunday mornings for one or all of these sessions.
BLANKETS & QUILTS DELIVERED
Last Friday, Pastor drove the church van to New Windsor, MD and delivered 17 blankets and 20 quilts to the Lutheran World Relief warehouse. Thanks to all who donated the blankets and those who made the quilts – our sewing “factory” – Vernetta, Ginny and Janet Ebersole.
2008 ALTAR FLOWER AND BULLETIN DONOR CHARTS
…have been hung in the tower narthex, and they invite your signature. Bulletin sponsorship costs $20 a week, while flowers generally fun from $30-$40, depending on the florist and flower choice. Sign-up today, and a week before your day comes, put a check in a plain white envelope labeled “Bulletin or Flower Reimbursement” and place it in the plate. You can order flowers yourself or have Diane do it. Whatever option is chosen, phone Diane at 426-3072 a week before (some florists need to know no later than the Tuesday morning for the following Sunday) and tell her a) what you are doing and b) what you want in the bulletin. Thanks!
PLEASE NOTE
Today and on Christmas Eve at 9:00 pm are the last two opportunities members have to receive Holy Communion in 2008. If you have not received the sacrament at least once in 2008, or on January 6 or 20, you will not be counted among the “voting” members of the parish and will not be able to vote at the congregational meetings or hold office in the church. Those who do not commune in 2008 will be listed among the inactive members in the Annual Bulletin of Reports.
DID YOU MEET THE DEADLINE?
…for getting your report in to Diane for inclusion in the Annual Report? If not, the grace of God extends to TODAY – at the latest. Those still owe us reports are:
aSocial Ministry Committee and treasurer
Worship and Music Committee
aChristian Education Committee
aYouth Groups and treasurers
aProperty Committee
aStewardship Committee
aFood Bank
Fellowship Committee and treasurer
aWELCA and treasurer
aEvangelism Committee
THANK YOU, AGAIN, ST. JOHN’S
On behalf of my sister and myself, I would like to thank all those members and friends who have, thus far, donated $1,405 to our church’s memorial fund in memory of our dad. He loved St. John’s and would have been most pleased by this generous giving, as are we, his children. God Bless you. Love, Pastor
ERVING GOD’S PEOPLE NEXT WEEK – December 30, 2007
The Service of Carols
Lector – Glenn Bachert
Head Usher – Charlie Johns
Altar Care – The Vogels
Flowers – Pastor Peirson
Bulletins – no one
Offering Counters – Jim Leonard, Linda Sipling &
Ruth Sweitzer