Good News of Great Joy for All People Luke 2:10
Volume 93, Issue 26 December 27, 2013
…”Good news of great joy for all people…” Luke 2:10
A time of wonder, a time of hope, a time of joy…that was the sense of our worship on Christmas Eve. For a brief time our yearning for a better world seemed truly possible of fulfillment. Thank you to all who worshiped with us and lifted your voices in praise. Thank you, especially, to all who helped make the worship more beautiful – those who worked behind the scenes to make it all come together, the organist and choirs, acolytes, crucifers, torchbearers, readers, soloists and instrumentalists, communion assistants, Sunday School teachers who directed and taught the children, three talented young readers, and the children who once again portrayed for us the story of that first Christmas.
The good news does not end with Christmas Eve worship. It continues through all time. The baby whose birth we celebrate grew up to become the One who shows us the immensity of God’s love for us, including the ultimate sacrifice of his life for us. “This little Babe, so few day’s old, has come to rifle Satan’s fold… all hell doth at his presence quake, though he himself for cold do shake… the angel’s trump[et] alarm[s] sound ….” These words from a medieval poem, set to music in Britten’s “The Ceremony of Carols” remind us of exactly why this baby was born.
The poem continues: “My soul with Christ, join thou in fight…within this crib is surest [promise] this little babe will be thy guard…if thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, then flit not from this heavenly boy.” The call is to follow this baby of promise, because in him is life and light. He is God’s ultimate Word to us, God’s ultimate message of love, forgiveness, hope and promise… forgiveness and eternal life. What joy! Who is not stirred by this? Let us resolve to follow Him.
Sharon’s Christmas Prayer came to me in an email ( shared at 10:30 pm worship)
She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity, convinced, every word she said was revelation. She said:
They were so poor; they only had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat
And they must have been a long way from home without getting lost.
The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was in the lady.
They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass (heehee)
But the Three Rich men found them because a star lited the roof.
Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them.
Then the baby was borned. And do you know what he was ?
Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars
The baby was God!
And she jumped in the air, whirled around, dove into the sofa and buried her head under a cushion which is the only proper response to the good news of the Incarnation. --- John Shea
Blessings for Christmas & the New Year t Pastor Moll
Wednesday, January 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Office closed
Thursday, January 2 Worship & Music Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Scout District Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 5 Girl Scouts, 1-:00 p.m.
Monday, January 6 HLC, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Finance Committee, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 7 Blood Drive, 1-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 8 Messenger folding, 9:30 a.m.
Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 9 Social Ministry Committee, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 1 Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Church, Sunbury. Come
early and join in worship service at 10:00 a.m.
Free will donation offering being taken for
Elijah’s Bowl.
LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZZA
FUNDRAISER
Sponsored by the Youth Group
Proceeds will go towards ELCA Good Gifts for Children and youth group activities.
Money and orders are due by Sunday, January 19th. Please make checks payable to St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Pickup date will be Monday, January 27th from 3-6:00 p.m. Just in time for the Super Bowl!!
Name ______Phone Number ______
Total amount enclosed ______Cash ______Check # ______
***For allergen information, you may visit PizzaKit.com for ingredients.
Item Price Number Total
Of Kits
Pepperoni Pizza Kit (3 – 12” pizzas) / 19.003 Meat Treat Kits (3-12” pizzas) / 24.00
Thin Crust Kit (3 – 12” pizzas) / 19.00
Whole Wheat Kit (3-12” pizzas) / 18.00
Cheese Pizza Kit (3-12” pizzas) / 18.00
Personal Pepperoni Kit (9-6” pizzas / 19.00
Personal Cheese Kit (9-6” pizzas) / 18.00
Microwave Personal Deep Dish (6-5” pizzas) / 19.00
Family Meal Kit (1 pizza, 18 Crazy Bread sticks, 15 Break n Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies / 19.00
Deep Dish Meal Kit (12” deep dish pizza, 18 Crazy Bread sticks; 9 boneless Caesar Wings) / 19.00
Italian Bread Kit (3 – 10” square Italian Cheese Bread) / 18.00
Crazy Bread with Sauce (makes 54 Crazy Bread sticks) / 16.00
Cinnamon Crazy Bread with Icing (makes 54 cinnamon sticks) / 16.00
Pepperoni Pizza Cone Kit (8 – 5” cones) / 19.00
Cheese Pizza Cone Kits (8 – 5” cones) / 18.00
Boneless Wings & Dipping Sauce (1.5 lbs of wings; Sweet Chili and Smokey BBQ Sauce) / 17.00
Gourmet Salad Fixin’s Kit (2 each of Fixin’s Packs – Apple Harvest, Asian, Berry Crunch, Parisian) / 17.00
Pizza Server Paddle / 25.00
Pizza Cutter / 13.00
Break n Bake Cookie Dough (2 – 24 count pre-portioned cookie dough)
Chocolate Chip / 16.00
Double Chocolate Brownie / 16.00
Birthday Cake / 16.00
TOTAL DUE
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 December 27, 2013 Volume 93, Issue 26
St. John’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
570-473-3770
This Sunday at St. John’s
December 29, 2013
1st Sunday After Christmas
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
January 5, 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
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