Volume 94, Issue 20 October 1, 2014
Dewy Web
Fall mornings seem to make the weight of the world hang in a different angle. Perhaps it is the change of the Sun’s angle or the shift in temperatures, but a simple walk can seem to make the hidden become visible. Too much of life is lived in a hum-drum nod of “been there. Done that.” and “uh huh” to what was simply expected. It is a great joy to see what you have not seen before. Sometimes, it is what you could not see before.
This morning (as I write this), I was taking the rubbish over to the dumpster. A simple and usually quite uneventful task. I would probably prefer it this way. I prefer not to be too aware of the smells and sights when in the middle of this task. I also feel a little sorry for those of you that might be surprised by a lingering raccoon or bear (or even what lingers behind as their shredded castoffs). No, I would prefer to get it over with and move on to my long list of to-dos and hope-it-happens. So, in the midst of my early morning drudging and double bagging, I looked up to see the visible work of a busy spider. The dew now covered the arachnid’s handiwork so thickly that it appeared to be made of a light silk. It hung there like circles of very thin fabric. The foggy morning light making my eyes think it might be solid, by my mind knowing that it was just a spider web. As I walked around the back corner by the carriage house, I walked through a low dewy web. It was not sticky. It disappeared in a wet whiff into the grass.
I thought, how frustrating it might be for the spider to be awakened by a passing truck, only to realize that it is a dewy morning. There would be no breakfast today. Not even a mayfly is stupid enough to fly into a clearly visible dewy web. Even if it did, it would not stick!
Perhaps this is a fraction of the way it is with faith. God’s hiddenness has a purpose, to drive our desire and enflame our hope for what we cannot see. So many question if God exists and why we cannot see and know God easily. Maybe those are the wrong questions. Anyway, there are always those dewy mornings when we see the hem of God’s garments dangling all around us, protecting us and keeping us safe. Those moments have a purpose, too. They help us when our faith is weak and our proclamation is timid. When the hidden becomes visible, we are called to point and give praise.
To God alone be all the Glory!
In Christ,
Pastor Fitch
Saturday, October 11, 2014
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
Fishing, Food, Children’s Games, Crafts
Silent Auction, Mr. Sticky
Contests
Hula Hoop 12:00
Candy Scramble 1:00
Bubble Gum Blowing 2:00
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
by
Marty Pants – Balloon Artist from 11:00-2:00
Caz Russell andChilli 1:30
Fishing is open to kids up to 12 years old; $3.50
Prizes are given for catching the ~ biggest fish ~ tagged fish
GOT LABELS?
Social Ministry is collecting UPC labels and lids and caps to be sent to the ELCA Rocky Boy’s Reservationin Box Elder, MT. A collection box is located on the top shelf above the mailboxes in the hallway adjacent to the Church Office. Please help us out by cutting out the UPC or saving the lids and caps on the items below. This will be an ongoing outreach mission collection.
Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, Brief Overview
Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation provides a home for about 4,500 members of the Chippewa-Cree tribe. One story has it that the name "Rocky Boy" was derived from the name of a leader of a band of Chippewa Indians. It actually meant "Stone Child," but it was not translated correctly from Chippewa into English, and the name "Rocky Boy" evolved. The reservation is near the Canadian border, in northcentral Montana. It is graced by the Bear Paw Mountains, which provide dramatic contrast to the flat bottomland of the area. The Chippewa and Cree were among the last tribal groups to come into Montana. Both tribes originally lived in the Great Lakes region. Late in the nineteenth century, the Chippewa came from Turtle Mountain country in North Dakota. This was after the reservation system was in existence, and they felt they had been not treated fairly during treaty negotiations. The Cree are of Canadian descent and along with their allies were a major force on the Great Plains. Initially the tribe had a monopoly on guns and horses, which gave them a great advantage over the other tribes. As with the other tribes, small pox devastated the Cree. The two groups refused to settle on a reservation and led a nomadic life. The Cree were deported to Canada but later returned to Montana. The tribes remained homeless and fell on hard times. Finally, in 1916 Rocky Boy's Reservation was established near Havre. The tribes today are inter-mixed and use the name "Chippewa-Cree."
UPC CODES
Campbell’s Soups – all kinds and microwave
bowls (specially marked packages)
Campbell’s Kitchen Classic, Chef’s Kettle,
Gourmet Bisques
Campbell’s Soup At Hand
Campbell’s Chunky Chili – cans and
microwave bowls
Campbell’s Chunky Soups – cans and
microwave bowls
Campbell’s Healthy Request Soups
V-8 V-Fusion Juice Drink Boxes, 8 pack - all
Campbell’s Soup and Recipe Mix
Campbell’s Beans
Campbell’s Gravies – all
Campbell’s Tomato Juice - any size or flavor
Franco-American Gravies – any size
Dannon Yogurt –
Dananimals – Crunchers, Smoothies, Squeezables, SuperStar Greek
Danonino
Emerald –Nut canisters, Yogurt Bites, 100 Calorie Packs, Breakfast on the Go,Glazed nuts, Trail Mix
Pepperidge Farms
Baked Natural Crackers, Goldfish Crackers, Graham Crackers
Breads, Croutons, Roll & Stuffing
Cookies
Frozen Garlic Bread, 3-Layer Cake, Puff
Pastry, Turnovers
Post Brand Cereal and Treats
Spaghetti-O’s – Original, Ravioli, Fun Pasta
Shapes, With Meatballs
Pop Secret Popcorn – all varieties, 3 count,
4 count, 6 count and 10 count packages
LIDS & CAPS
V-8 Juices – Vegetable, V-Fusion, Splash, Splash Smoothies
Pace – Picante Sauce, Salsas, Pace Specialty
Items
Prego Sauces
Thursday, October 2Worship & Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 5Blanket Sunday
Meet & Greet with Pastor Fitch
following the 8:00 and 10:15
services, Adult Sunday School Room
Monday, October 6Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 8Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 9Messenger deadline, 3:00 p.m.
Social Ministry Committee, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, October 10Set up for Fishing Tournament, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11Fishing Tournament, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Monday, October 13WELCA, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23Ham Dinner, Grace Lutheran Church, 120 Spruce Street,
Sunbury, $9 Adults, Children $4.50, under 5 eat free
Ham, macaroni & cheese, stewed tomatoes, dessert &
beverage
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 October 1, 2014 Volume 94, Issue 20
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
October 5, 2014
Rev. Andrew Fitch, Interim Pastor
Meet & Greet following both services, Adult Sunday School
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
October 12, 2014
Rev. Dr. Ronald Shellhamer
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
Rev. Andrew Fitch, Pastor
William J. Jacavage, Director of Music