Volume 94, Issue 6 March 19, 2014
“Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, marked with the sign of Christ our king: born of the Spirit, we are God’s children; joyfully now God’s praise we sing.” ELW hymn #456
In ancient times Lent was a time of intense preparation for baptism. Today it is still a theme of Lent as we ponder our relationship with our God. The hymns we sang this past Sunday certainly lifted up that theme:
Let water be the sacred sign that we must die each day to rise again by his design as followers of his way.
This is the Spirit’s entry now; the water and the word, the cross of Jesus on your brow, the seal both felt and heard.
Renewing Spirit, hear our praise for your baptismal power that washes us through all our days. Come, cleanse again this hour.
Bring us, O Christ, to share the fullness of your joy; baptize us in the risen life that death cannot destroy.
Baptism is the traditional entrance into the life of the church and most of us were baptized as infants. We tend to give confirmation more significance than baptism, even though baptism is a sacrament and confirmation – or affirmation of baptism – is not.
We could spend many words on the meaning of the sacrament, but two things stand out for me:
First, we receive an identity and a new name: the identity is “child of God” and the name is “Christian.” We spend our lives living out this identity and name. In the same way, at our birth we received an identity as members of a particular human family and the name by which we are known to others. In both cases we can bring honor or dishonor to the family and the name. But the name and the identity are ours forever.
That is why on Sunday mornings I end the service with the baptismal reminder that we are all “children of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” You leave with the reminder of who and Whose you are.
Second is the gift of Holy Spirit. We pray that God will pour out the Holy Spirit on those who are baptized and later give thanks that this has happened. Because we believe that God gives what we ask when we pray for what God desires to give, we anoint the newly baptized with oil and the sign of the cross as we announce the Holy Spirit’s seal on each person.
“Walking wet” means consciously living as baptized people. Luther advised us to make the sign of the cross each morning as we remember our baptism and our baptismal identity. That is a very powerful action for me, with the reminder that above all else my life is bound up with Christ's life in me and that God is with me. I try to “walk wet.”
When our children were young, we lit their baptismal candles on their baptismal birthdays and prayed especially for them. I still try to send baptismal birthday cards to them, their spouses, and our grandchildren. There are many ways to celebrate this anniversary.
Do you know your baptismal date? If you were not baptized at St. John’s, we probably do not have it. My date is April 18; I’m planning to get a special candle to burn that day.
Rejoice in your baptism, even if you don’t know the date, and give thanks that you are a beloved child of God forever. t Pastor Moll
Thursday, March 20 Christian Education/Evangelism, 7:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 Girl Scouts/Fellowship Hall 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 Lenten Service, 7:00 p.m. in the Church
Library
Thursday, March 27 His Lighthouse Café, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 2 Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, April 3 Worship & Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
District Scout Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 Fellowship Hall reserved, noon-6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 6 Healing Service, 8:00 & 10:15 a.m.
Wednesdays, March 26 Lenten Meditation & Breakfast, 7:00 a.m. at
April 2 & 9 Zion Lutheran Church, Sunbury
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 March 19, 2014 Volume 94, Issue 6
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
March 23, 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
March 30, 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 & Baptism
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
April 1
Denise Litchard
Judith Rohland
April 2
Corey Billman
Terri Dodge
Logan Gallo
April 3
Tara Amerman
Richard Bowman
Becky Connor
Angela Kinsley-Chubb
April 4
Gwen Naginey
Gerald Runyan III
April 5
Emma Clabaugh
Genna Feathers
Lindsay Granquist
April 6
Jillian Hafer
April 7
Larry Miller
Louis VanGilder Jr.
Erin Veronick
April 8
Charles Hudock
Robert Orr
April 9
Barb Eisely
Aaron Knouse
Lewis Litchard
Jessica Miller
Nicole Scholl
Mary Shipe
Carl Spigelmeyer Jr.
Thomas Stover
Julia Tiedman
April 10
Beth Ginck
Laura McWilliams
Barry Moser
April 11
Elizabeth Kinsley
Miles Krouse Jr.
Zachary Reed
Parker Volinski
April 12
Tret Fitzgerald
Michael Gautsch
Donna Sees
April 13
Stephen Henry Sr.
April 14
Jennifer Colchado
Sandra Shaffer
Helen Snyder
April 15
Catherine Broome
Allen Drumheller
April 16
Matt Billman
Evelyn Ruch
April 17
Matthew Fasold
April 18
Brian Bingaman
Dean Dunkelberger
April 19
Heidi Kerchoff
Cole Lynch
April 20
Andrea Watt
April 21
Margaret Campbell
Jason Dreese
Alexa Snyder
April 22
Lindsay Pahl
George Stuck
April 23
Barbara Kiger
Betty Meiser
Gary Smith
Carl Spigelmeyer III
April 24
Curtis Bickel
Kyle Bickel
Nicholas Payne
Terry Walker Sr.
April 25
Dustin Beaver
Lee Bettleyon
Zachary Feaster
Grace Herrold
Joseph Meehan
George Specht
Gary Steiner
April 26
Skyle Badman
Jill Bahner
Carl Drumheller
April 27
Sally Swank
James Williams
April 28
Craig Treacher
April 29
James Kohler Jr.
April 30
Esther Bartholomew
Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday/ 1
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m / 2
Messenger Folding 9:30 a.m.
Lenten Service 7:00 p.m. / 3
Worship & Music 7:00 p.m.
District Scout Committee 7:00 p.m. AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m / 4 / 5
Fellowship Hall reserved
Noon-6:00 p.m.
6
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Girl Scouts 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Quiet Communion 1:00 p.m. / 7
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m.
Finance 7:00 p.m. / 8
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m / 9
Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.
Lenten Service 7:00 p.m. / 10
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
Social Ministry 6:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m / 11 / 12
District Scout Dinner/Program
Fellowship Hall
Noon-9:00 p.m.
13
Breakfast 7-11:30 a.m.
Sponsored by the Cub/Boy Scouts
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Youth Group Noon-2:00 p.m
Deadline for Soup Orders / 14
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m.
Scout Dist. Commissioner
7:00 p.m. / 15
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 16
Messenger Folding 9:30 a.m.
Lenten Service 7:00 p.m. / 17 Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday Service
7:30 p.m.
Lighthouse Café 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Scout Roundtable 7:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m. / 18 Good Friday
OFFICE CLOSED
Good Friday Service
7:30 p.m. / 19
Kathryn’s Kloset
9-11:00 a.m.
20 EASTER
Sunrise Services
w/Comm. 6:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
/ 21
OFFICE CLOSED
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m.
NO WELCA / 22
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 23
Set up for Rummage Sale
8 a.m.-?
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 24
Messenger deadline 3:00 p.m.
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m
/ 25 / 26
27
Worship w/Comm. 8:00 a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship w/Comm. 10:15 a.m.
Girl Scouts 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Pastor’s Conference
Noon-6:00 p.m.
. / 28
TOPS 6:00 p.m.
Cub Scouts 7:00 p.m / 29
Boy Scouts 6:30 p.m.
Senior Choir 7:00 p.m.
Bell Choir 8:00 p.m. / 30
Messenger Folding 9:30 a.m.
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. / 31
AA 7:00 p.m.
Al anon 8:00 p.m /
Service Assistants for April 2014
Date / Lector / Greeters / CommunionAssistants / Bread / Ushers / Crucifer / Acolyte/
Torch-
bearer / Sound
System
April 6
8:00 AM / Jamie Feaster
Judy Dunkelberger / Judy Reigle
April 6
10:15 AM / Dave Eisely / Sharon & Mack Fleming / Barb Moyer
Lou VanGilder / Judy Reigle / Mike Erdley, Capt.
Glen Weaver
Nick Auman
Mack Fleming / Rachel Anderson / Brandon Deans / Tom Stover
April 76
Quiet Communion
April 13
8:00 AM
Palm Sunday / Bill Troutman
Sue Billman / Jacki
Cunningham
April 13
10:15 AM
Palm Sunday / Nick Auman / Mary Siemsen & Linda Bingaman / Nick Auman
Blaine Shaffer / Jacki Cunningham / Trish Long, Capt.
Barb Moyer
Virginia Butler
Nancy Erdley / Rebekah Amerman / Ryan Latsha
William Duncan Kanen Bucher / Bob Berry
April 17
7:30 PM
Maundy Thursday / Gail Lehman / Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Cynthia Paul / Lee Miller, Capt.
Ken Reigle
David Menges
Derek Menges / Kanen Bucher
April 18
7:30 PM
Good Friday / Bob Berry, Capt. Bonnie Berry
Maryann Berry
Mike McWilliams / William Duncan
April 20
6:00 Easter Sunrise / Blaine Shaffer / Sue Billman
Laurie Robinson / Brenda Herbert
David Herbert / Linda Bingaman / Blaine Shaffer
Greg Morton
Tom Propst
Pat Propst / Rebekah Amerman / Rachel Anderson
Ryan Latsha
Derek Young / Lou VanGilder
April 20
10:15 AM
Easter / Mike Erdley / Maryann Berry
Bonnie Berry / Nancy Erdley
Mike Erdley / Linda Bingaman / Doug Manning, Capt.
Lou VanGilder
Franklin Hoffman
Frank Hoffman / Trey Cunningham / Kobe Swanger
Owen Long
Brandon Deans / Bob Berry
April 27
8:00 AM / Pat Propst
Tom Propst / Cindy Manning
April 27
10:15 AM / Virginia Butler / Judy & Frank Hoffman / Patricia Long
Virginia Butler / Cindy Manning / Barb Moyer, Capt.
Judy Hoffman
Lori Bogovich
Teresa Miller / Derek Young / Kanen Bucher / Lou VanGilder
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