Volume 94, Issue 2 January 22, 2014
…when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened…Matthew 3:10
The day after we observed the Baptism of our Lord Sunday, I found a sermon by Dr. Timothy J. Wengert, a professor of church history at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. His insights andcomments are wonderful. Here are someexcerpts:
“...What does [Jesus’ baptism] mean for us and our baptisms? Only the sweetest consolation of all! Jesus refuses to pull rank, to say, “Well, this is beneath me. After all, I’m Immanuel. I’m God’s chosen messiah. I’m too spiritual for this silly little water bath.Pulleeze!” But Jesus doesn’t say that—ever! He is forever stooping down to us, to where people are, in the middle of their hurts and sins. He heals a leper by touching him; he forgives the lame man dropped through the roof; he rebukes the hyper-religious; he puts up with Peter and the other wayward disciples and even calls a tax collector—Matthew—to be an apostle. True, Jesus is God’s Son, but remember that he is Immanuel—God WITH us fulfilling all righteousness.
…Of course, there is more to Jesus’ baptism than just the water. At Jesus’ baptism the whole Trinity showed up! The Spirit of God in the form of a dove; the voice of the Father proclaiming: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Father, Son and Holy Spirit… And the same Trinity that appeared at Jesus’ baptism surely shows up in our baptisms... At [Jesus’] baptism, he saw the dove and heard the voice. Jesus had sight; we walk by faith—so all we have is the name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the water hitting our heads. That is, we live by the promise that where God’s name is, there is God’s power and presence hidden in the weakness and foolishness of water and words.
But we did not only hear God’s name at our baptisms… God comes into the middle of our loneliness and doubts and fears and calls us by name in our baptisms—just as he proclaimed at Jesus’ baptism: “You are my son, my beloved,” so he said the same thing in your baptism and will say the same thing … to all the baptized... When you forget who you are and are covered from head to toe in the grime and dirt of sin, this remains for you: In baptism God has called you by name … When you are alone in the crowd, when no one seems to understand or care … this remains: In baptism God has called you by name … [when no one else remembers your name...] This remains: In baptism God has called you by name; you belong to God.”
[470 years ago ...] Luther noticed that the text says, “The heavens were opened to him.” And then, typical Luther, he says, “And the text never says that they were closed.” They’re still open! From the day of Jesus’ baptism to this day and to the end of time: the heavens are still open.
… And what did Jesus say? “I am with you; you are a beloved child of God; heaven itself stands open before you, and no one can shut that door.”
...Yes, it’s true, there is plenty of evil in this world... But listen for the voice, watch for the dove and see our savior standing dripping wet in the Jordan—God with us not against us, who calls us beloved children and who opens the kingdom of heaven for us and all believers forever. And what can we say in the face of this remarkable mercy? Lord Jesus! Sweet Jesus! Crucified and Risen Jesus! Only Jesus, fulfilling all righteousness! Amen
Remember your baptism ! Know you are blessed!
t Pastor Moll
Wednesday, January 22Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 23His Lighthouse Café, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 26Council Retreat, 12:00-6:00 p.m.
Monday, January 27Pizza order pickup, 3:00-6:00 p.m.
HLC, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 29Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 30Messenger deadline, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, January 31Girl Scouts, Fellowship Hall, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 2Annual Congregation Meeting, 10:15 a.m. service
Monday, February 3HLC, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 5Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, February 6Worship and Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Scout District Committee, 7:00 p.m.
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
Periodical postage paid at Northumberland, PA.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to St. John’s Messenger,
300 Queen Street, Northumberland, PA 17857.
ST. JOHN’S MESSENGER January 22, 2014 Volume 94, Issue 2
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
January 26, 2014
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Next Sunday at St. John’s
February 2, 2014
Annual Congregation Meeting
8:00 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
8:45 a.m. Sunday School for Preschool-6th Grade
9:00 a.m. Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Worship Service with Communion
Church Office Hours Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m.-Noon
MarthaSue Moll, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music
February 1
Annabelle Booker
Mary Dunkelberger
Patrick Fiori III
February 2
Corinne Brock
Allana Long
Erin Reigle
February 3
Tammy Fitzgerald
Patricia Propst
February 4
Barbara Savidge
February 5
Katelyn Eisely
February 6
Weston Campbell
Jane Galow
February 7
Jennifer Berry
Ryder Feaster
Sarah Long
Robert Neitz III
February 8
Frank Knorr
Barbara Moyer
Mary Startzel
February 9
Ryan Billman
Isabella Heckert
Sandra Miller
Ian Reitz
February 10
Bryant Hamor
Bessie Hetzendorf
Alison Reigle
February 11
Christopher Eisely
William Troutman
February 12
William Duncan III
Malinda Sawyer
February 13
Samantha Hamor
Jeana Snyder
February 14
Roger Kerstetter
February 15
Leonard Broome
Jennifer Fleming
Susan Fromm
Kathryn Kistner
February 16
David Bogovich
Robert Naginey
Allen Potter
David Wolfe
February 17
TeeAnn Ferguson
Clayton Kessler III
February 18
Evan Neidig
February 19
Brian Kauffman
Robert Mull IV
Jessica Steele
February 20
Lauren Knouse
Judy Kohl
Jack Luden
February 21
William Jacavage
February 22
Sophia Feathers
Lynn Noecker
Nicholas Sees
February 23
George Eisenhower
Cole Stuck
February 24
Betsy Kauffman
Tina Vayda
Joey Walter
Glen Weaver
Lorraine Weaver
Katherine Welsh
February 25
Richard Smeltz
February 26
Jennifer Fromm
James Smith
Nancy Tomlinson
Glenda Whitecavage
February 27
James Brosious Jr.
Dustin Holub
Mark Sees
February 28
James Kohler Sr.
Michael Sees
Steven Snyder
February 29
Samantha Ferguson
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday/ 1
2
Annual Congregation
Meeting
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Youth Group Noon-2:00 p.m. / 3
HLC 4:30-6:30 p.m.
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 4
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 5
Messenger Folding
9:30 a.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 6
Worship & Music 7:00 p.m.
Scout District Comm 7:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 7 / 8
9
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m / 10
HLC 4:30-6:30 p.m.
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 11
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 12
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 13
Messenger deadline
3:00 p.m.
Social Ministry 6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m / 14 / 15
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:15 a.m.
16
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Youth Group Noon-2:00 p.m / 17 PRESIDENTS DAY
HLC 4:30-6:30 p.m.
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m.
WELCA 7:00 p.m.
/ 18
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 19
Messenger Folding
9:30 a.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 20
Christian Ed 7:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable 7:00 p.m. AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 21 / 22
23
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School PreK-6 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m / 24
HLC 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Scout Blue & Gold
3-8:00 p.m.
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m. / 25
Webelos &
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 26
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 27
Messenger deadline
3:00 p.m.
His Lighthouse Café
4:30-6:30 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 28
Service Assistants for February 2014
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Crucifer / Acolyte/
Torch-
bearer / Sound
System
Feb 2
8:00 AM / Brenda and David Herbert / Lorraine Weaver
Feb 2
10:15 AM / Mary Siemsen / Joanne and Don Steele / Barb Moyer
Lou VanGilder / Lorraine Weaver / Bob Berry
Bonnie Berry
MaryannBerry
Mike McWilliams / Rebekah Amerman / Brandon Deans / Tom Stover
Feb 9
8:00 AM / Pat and Tom Propst / Jamie Feaster
Feb 9
10:15 AM / Cub/Boy Scouts / Cub/Boy Scouts / Nick Auman
Blaine Shaffer / Jamie Feaster / Cub/Boy Scouts / William Duncan / Rachel Anderson / Bob Berry
Feb 16
8:00 AM / Sue Billman
Bill Troutman / Esther Bartholomew
Feb 16
10:15 AM / Ginny Butler / Karen and Rick Smeltz / Trish Long
Ginny Butler / Esther Bartholomew / Barb Moyer
Lori Bogovich
Teresa Miller
Judy Hoffman / Ryan Latsha / Derek Young / Mike Erdley
Feb 23
8:00 AM / Brenda and David Herbert / Laurie Robinson
Feb 23
10:15 AM / Mike Erdley / Lori and Emily Bogovich / Barb Moyer
Mike Erdley / Laurie Robinson / Blaine Shaffer
Greg Morton
Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Rebekah
Amerman / Kanen Bucher / Lou VanGilder