August 4 - Worship, Communion

August 4 - Fellowship Hour

August 8 - Rejoicing Spirits

August 10 - 5:00 p.m. Vespers Service (Pavilion)

August 11 - Worship

August 18 - Worship

August 25 - Worship, Congregational Forum Dinner

AUGUST

St. John’s UCC

1050 Buffalo Road

Lewisburg, PA 17837

stjohnslewisburg.org

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No. 6

Lewisburg, PA

DATED MATERIAL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

THE

EAGLE

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The story is told of two men who go on a camping trip in the wild.

They are both trekking through the wilderness, enjoying the splendors of Nature, when much to their surprise they catch sight of a mountain lion lurking nearby.

The wild cat gives every indication of being hungry and of perceiving in these hapless tenderfeet a hearty meal.

Understanding that to be the case, one of the men begins hurriedly to take off his backpack, which prompts the other to ask him what in the world he’s planning to do.

“I’m going to make a run for it,” he whispers, undoing the straps and slowly sliding his heavy hiking gear to the ground.

“But you can’t outrun a mountain lion!” his friend argues.

“I don’t have to outrun the mountain lion,” comes the sobering reply. “I only have to outrun you!”

We chuckle at a story such as this, in part because of the usually far-fetched circumstances being por-trayed, but also in part because we recognize a certain truth.

In this case, that germ of truth has to do with the portrait of a twisted form of selfishness--i.e., providing for one’s own personal welfare at the obvious expense of someone else.

While we recognize selfish behavior to be both “natural” and “typical,” we may well now be living in a time when, frankly, it no longer makes much, if any, real sense. It no longer makes a great deal of sense pre-cisely because of the sort of world in which we live, a world which, by virtue of our various technological and communications possibilities, is bringing together disparate nationalities, locations, and cultures at an unprecedented pace.

We live at present in a world where the toxins that are illegally dumped into the rivers in one state leach into the soil of another that produces the very food that we eat; in a world where the armaments we sell to hostile nations are in the end used against us and/or produce refugees by the millions who wish to emi-grate here, if they can; in a world where the waste that we thoughtlessly bury in the earth and at sea (and I suppose eventually in space) makes it impossible for us to maintain our own health. The list goes on and on.

Perhaps the Golden Rule about loving others as you would love yourself is much more than merely an ar-chaic and idealistic commandment by which to control human beings’ incurably ego-centered behavior. Given the size of our current world, it may be a declaration of fact about the way things work in the uni-verse: To hurt others, to hurt Nature, and not really care about it, is ultimately to hurt ourselves.

So, willfully allowing the wild cat to devour our friend means simply that it will take just a bit longer until we are caught in those jaws, too. The point is that, in today’s shrinking world, the old form of selfishness rarely pays.

We need to cultivate a much more enlightened form of self-interest, it seems, for loving others, paradoxi-cally, may not only be the best way but the only way by which to insure our own peace, health, and well-being.

Wishing you well in this challenging spiritual endeavor, I remain,

Cordially, Bob Stoudt

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Page 3 THE EAGLE

AUGUST VOLUNTEERSAUGUST VOLUNTEERSAUGUST VOLUNTEERSAUGUST VOLUNTEERS Ushers: MARK SATTESON, ROBERT BROUSEMARK SATTESON, ROBERT BROUSEMARK SATTESON, ROBERT BROUSEMARK SATTESON, ROBERT BROUSE

Lock-up Person: DON ADAMSDON ADAMSDON ADAMSDON ADAMS

Lay-Reader: DON ADAMSDON ADAMSDON ADAMSDON ADAMS

Preparation of Communion Elements: CAROL BERRY & MARY GEYERCAROL BERRY & MARY GEYERCAROL BERRY & MARY GEYERCAROL BERRY & MARY GEYER

AUGUST Children's Church OPENER/FLOWER DEL.

4 DON ADAMS ANNA BROUSE

11 LINDA WILLIAMS

18 LIZ DeSANTIS

25 ANGIE DONLIN

AUGUST FLOWER SPONSORS Acolyte Drivers Route 1*

4 RUTH BROUSE DANIEL DeSANTIS ADAMS

11 LAUREN/RICK RAUTZHAN JAMES DONLIN SPICKLER

18 DIANNA/ROGER SPICKLER ERIN DeSANTIS BAISH

AUGUST GREETERS

4 TESS GROOVER/LOU GOFF

11 ELVA/JIM JOHNSON

18 ADDIE/SUE MILLER

25 SUE/ STEVE GEMBERLING

25 KAY/GARY NOTTIS ADDIE MILLER ADAMS

If you need a ride to church, please contact Ron Zug (570-523-3987) who schedules the drivers.

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Page 4 THE EAGLE

JUNE 2019 REPORT

Current Operating Receipts $ 15,683.38

Current Operating Disbursements $ - 18,255.54

Current Operating Balance $ - 2,572.16

“Red Book” Memories XX“Red Book” Memories XX“Red Book” Memories XX“Red Book” Memories XX

“The Gift of Presence”

One of the greatest gifts we can give to another person is our listening, caring, and supportive presence. As followers of Jesus, we are called upon to visit with others, to listen to their hurts and hopes, and to demon-strate the availability of God’s compassion concern and healing through our words and actions. Congregations have this same responsibility, par-

ticularly in regard to their own members.

In many churches, pastors are tasked with being the primary source of congregational care. They are ex-pected to make home and hospital visits, comfort distressed congregants, and ensure that shut-ins receive Communion on a regular basis. Pastors are often the only connection an individual has with his or her church. Unfortunately, this expectation is unrealistic in light of today’s pressing demands on a pastor’s time. In such cases, trained churchgoers need to assist the pastor in providing congregational care. To a certain extent, members of St. John’s have undertaken this task, first as a part of an evangelism effort and then through lay ministry teams.

Our “Red Book” tells us that it was during the pastorate of RRRRev. John Ehrhart (1950-1955), the first Evan-gelism Committee was organized under the leadership of Harold Weber. This committee encouraged members of the congregation to personally visit other members, mostly to encourage support of the church. However, it also presented an opportunity for visitors to offer a listening ear and to inform the pastor of any issues troubling individual congregants. The “Red Book” also mentions similar work by the committee dur-ing the pastorate of Rev. Paul Jordan (1956-1970). As time passed and the Evangelism Committee contin-ued under later pastorates, visitations became more focused on inactive members, rather than all congre-gants.

More recently, under the guidance and instruction of Interim Pastor Rev. Dr. Gary Hackenberg (2001-2002), listening teams were formed and sent out to listen to and identify the concerns and needs of church members. In addition, lay ministers were trained and given the task of making member visits on behalf of the pastor. This particular program continued into the pastorate of Rev. Paula Gustafson (2002-2016), but eventually disbanded. Even so, some church members have continued this important ministry on an indi-vidual basis.

According to church revitalization expert, Robert Schieler, teams of lay ministers, trained in congregational care and nurtured by pastors, are an essential part of any living and growing congregation. They are an opportunity for congregational members to discover and put to use spiritual gifts of caring and compassion. It is a chance to provide meaningful support for another and express the presence of God and Christ in someone’s life. Participating in congregational care can not only be a rewarding experience for those who offer the gift of presence, but also an opening to a deeper, more profound connection with God and Jesus, something our ancestors in faith well knew.

Perhaps their example is a signpost for us to follow as we look forward to a bright, new future at St. John’s. Certainly, it is food for thought.

Gary Nottis

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LUNCH BUNCH & ADOPT A FAMILY FUNDS NEED YOUR HELP!LUNCH BUNCH & ADOPT A FAMILY FUNDS NEED YOUR HELP!LUNCH BUNCH & ADOPT A FAMILY FUNDS NEED YOUR HELP!LUNCH BUNCH & ADOPT A FAMILY FUNDS NEED YOUR HELP!

Over the last few years, both the Lunch Bunch and Adopt a Family mission projects have been very successful! But the funds are low in both accounts! Please prayerfully consider donating to these 2 mission projects by marking your offering envelopes according to which fund you’d like to contribute! We have had a surplus of funding for the last few years, and now we need to replen-ish! Thanks in advance for your monetary donations to these valuable Mission projects!

Christian Education in Action: The Peace PoleChristian Education in Action: The Peace PoleChristian Education in Action: The Peace PoleChristian Education in Action: The Peace Pole Kay Nottis, Christian Education Committee

How many of you have seen or even walked by St. John’s Peace Pole? Do you know where it is located? Do you know what it says? Do you think about its message?

St. John’s Peace Pole was a gift from the Life Tradition Study Group, one of two adult Sunday School classes previously meeting during part of the pastorate of Rev. Paula Gustafson. This group raised the money for the pole, and then donated it to the church. The pole was dedicated in a 15-minute outdoor ceremony, prepared by members of the class, immediately following the regular Sunday Worship service on October 23, 2005. A time of fellowship in the Narthex, hosted by this Sunday School class, followed the service.

The 8-foot marker displays the message and prayer, May Peace Pre-May Peace Pre-May Peace Pre-May Peace Pre-vail on Earthvail on Earthvail on Earthvail on Earth on each of its sides in 8 different languages. The lan-guages, selected by the class, are: English, German, Hebrew, Lakota Sioux, Sign Language, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese. These lan-guages were chosen by class members because they reflect the lan-guages of area residents and peoples who have suffered past and present oppression. The planting of this Peace Pole announced that our church is a special place dedicated to peace on Earth. The pole itself is designed to raise consciousness about the exploitation and suffering of others around the world. It serves as a symbol of solidar-ity with those in need, and with those who are working for a better community, nation, and world. As we begin a new church year, con-sider ways you can use this peace pole in educational opportunities, and promote its message.

“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

(Romans 12:18, NLT)(Romans 12:18, NLT)(Romans 12:18, NLT)(Romans 12:18, NLT)

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08/01 Addie Miller

08/03 Shannon Klinger

08/05 Thomas Ransdorf

08/06 Jean Hartman

08/08 Deborah Blandford

08/09 Donna Dreese

08/09 Jeff Evans

08/10 Hannah Forbes

08/15 William Hoban Jr

08/18 Vicki Fennell

08/18 Peggy Fisher

08/19 Katelyn Forbes

08/26 Janet Roberts

08/28 Rev. James Johnson

08/31 Abby Funk

08/02 Debby & Barry Catherman

08/03 Brenda & Don Adams

08/06 Katharyn & Pastor Gary Nottis

08/08 Janet & Richard Heaton

08/21 Ann & Rev. Joseph Lingenfelter

08/25 Kimberly & Matthew Roberts

08/26 Joan & Paul Wagner

08/28 Barbara & William Kugler

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STEWARDSHIP/MISSION/ BUDGET PRESENTATIONSTEWARDSHIP/MISSION/ BUDGET PRESENTATIONSTEWARDSHIP/MISSION/ BUDGET PRESENTATIONSTEWARDSHIP/MISSION/ BUDGET PRESENTATION

Please save the date of Sunday, September 15th, Sunday, September 15th, Sunday, September 15th, Sunday, September 15th, imme-diately following the worship service. The Stewardship & Finance committee will present its budget for the 2020 calendar year! Please plan on staying for a brief meeting this day, to hear about the budget and upcoming Mission projects.

FAREWELL TO PASTOR BOB & HUE!FAREWELL TO PASTOR BOB & HUE!FAREWELL TO PASTOR BOB & HUE!FAREWELL TO PASTOR BOB & HUE!

As we come to the end of Pastor Bob’s time with us, we pause to express our gratitude for his leadership, hard work, and caring, compassionate concern during this Interim period in the life of St. John’s!

We wish both Bob and Hue peace, health and good luck in their future endeavors.

Happy travels on the “Adventure Road”!

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God's gift of grace was proclaimed at the Rejoicing Spirits worship service on Thursday, July 11th at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11th at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11th at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11th at 6 p.m. at the pavilion. We were blessed to have 2 guests with us and 15 members of local churches. The aroma of grilled hot dogs was a special gift that the St John's Hospitality Committee gave to the group. We enjoyed our summer supper of hot dogs and all the fixings before we praised God in our outdoor service.

The message was brought to the group by Marian Anderson, Mac Scott and Ruth Blankenship who were the wor-ship team of word and music. It was a wonderful summer evening that permitted us the opportunity to worship out-side amongst God's creation.

Many thanks go out to everyone who made this heart warming service possible.

The August Rejoicing Spirits worship service will be held, again, in the pavilion on Thursday, August 8th at 6 p.m.Thursday, August 8th at 6 p.m.Thursday, August 8th at 6 p.m.Thursday, August 8th at 6 p.m. Please note the time change of the service because we will be eating supper before our worship service. Pizza will be on the menu for the night!

Plan to come out to our special worship service that connects the churches of Lewisburg with members of our com-munity. Rejoicing Spirits is a ministry of the Lewisburg Council of Churches.

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A FINAL “CONGREGATIONAL FORUM”A FINAL “CONGREGATIONAL FORUM”A FINAL “CONGREGATIONAL FORUM”A FINAL “CONGREGATIONAL FORUM”

No project is complete until a thorough evaluation of it is conducted. Moving forward, it is invaluable to know what worked, and what didn’t work, and why--in the interest of improving performance the next time a similar such project is undertaken.

Such is the rationale for proposing a “Congregational Forum” by which to bring our interim period to a meaningful close, as an opportunity is afforded the members and friends of St. John’s to offer their personal observations, opinions and feedback.

With time running out as to where we can schedule such an event on the church calendar, we are compelled to choose a date which probably will not be ideal, given final family time away and the rush to get ready for school. That date is Sunday, August 25Sunday, August 25Sunday, August 25Sunday, August 25thththth....

We will begin after worship with one of our fabulous covered-dish events, which will be followed im-mediately by the “Forum.”

It is planned to have the whole thing wrapped up no later than 1:30 (1 o’clock, if possible), in order that folks still have plenty of Sunday left to do what they need to do.

If you’re not averse to sharing in one of our “potluck” meals, and if you’re willing to contribute in a per-sonal way to some next-church’s interim experience with Pastor Bob, then please add this little get-together to your date book.

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MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERSMEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERSMEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERSMEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS

Over two Sundays (June 30th and July 14th), we recently received our Summer Class of new members. As part of the ceremony on those dates, each was given a brief personal introduction, which was as follows:

Dear St. John’s and the Christian Education Committee,

Thank you so much for the beautiful engraved pen. I will be using it a lot for note taking. Also, thank you for you constant love and support throughout the years. I am so grateful to have a loving Church family!

With Love,

Abigail Snayberger

Dear St. John’s,

I’d like to thank Pastor Bob for all his vis-its and prayers while I was in the Hospi-tal and at River Woods. Also, I want to thank you all for my cards and prayers and also for the beautiful flowers you gave me.

God Bless you all!

With love,

Mary Stover

A BIG BIG BIG BIG thank you to everyone who donated items, helped set up tables, unpack, organize and price everything in preparation for our yard sale. It was a busy 2 days and we had a lot of help! The sale day was a great success, we mad $1,636.05!

Thanks to everyone who helped on this day too! We had a fun day and lots of help to pack up the unsold items!

Carol Berry

Thank you for your gift to the home-building ministry of Snyder-Union-Northumberland Habitat for Humanity. Your generosity, along with volunteer labor and donated materials, will help provide simple, basic homes for God’s people in need. The home are sold to these families at no profit and financed with affordable, no interest loans.

Sincerely,

Sandra Hopkins

Dear St. John’s,

Thank you very much for your support of the Donald Heiter Community Center. Your contribu-tion has greatly helped! Your gift will support our general operation, facilitation of our many programs, such as our Before & After School programs and Summer Day Camp, Youth Leader-ship, STEM program and Youth Art. It also helps us provide more than $140,000 annually in scholarships and subsidized participant fees to local families! Thank you so much for your gift!

Sincerely, Andrea Tufo, Executive Director.

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Page 9 CHUCK & CAROL LAUDERMILCHCHUCK & CAROL LAUDERMILCHCHUCK & CAROL LAUDERMILCHCHUCK & CAROL LAUDERMILCH

The Laudermilchs moved to Lewisburg from Bloomsburg in mid-December, settling in one of the cottages in the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village. A Registered Nurse, Carol retired in 2004, after some 13 years working as an Occupational Health Nurse at a manufacturing plant. Chuck followed in retirement two years later, in 2006, after 28 years of teaching as a Professor in the Social Work Department at Bloomsburg Uni-versity. While previously members of the First Presbyterian Church, in Bloomsburg, their first contact with St. John’s occurred by way of our new sign on Buffalo Road, proudly flashing the news that we were now formally “Open and Affirming.” That progressive and inclusive position on the part of the congregation was “the first indicator,” as Chuck puts it, that this was the place for them, although they happened also to be surrounded by new friends here (the Adamses, Sue Miller, and the Tomlinsons) who were already active parts of St. John’s. Their first impressions, Chuck reports, had to do with the warmth and friendliness of the congregation; Carol adds that “it didn’t hurt that we enjoyed the morning’s message.” Both are looking for-ward to their future involvements here, though they plan to take their time getting settled in activities be-yond worship. As Presbyterians, Carol was very active in the music program, and Chuck served as a Dea-con. Of their future involvements here, Chuck says, “We are looking forward to learning more and connect-ing with the community.” We are looking forward to getting to know better these gifted additions to our fel-lowship.

REV. KURT & JOANNA NELSONREV. KURT & JOANNA NELSONREV. KURT & JOANNA NELSONREV. KURT & JOANNA NELSON

Though the Nelsons both have their roots in the State of Kansas, it is Kurt’s career as a chaplain which brings them to Pennsylvania and to Lewisburg. He recently began his ministry at Bucknell University as the Protestant Chaplain and the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life. His previous chaplaincies took him first to Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, for 5 years, and then to Colby College, Maine, where he remained for almost 7 years. An interesting fact about them as a couple: It turns out that their mothers worked to-gether at Kansas State University, so their families were friends for a long time. It remained until their col-lege years, however, for Kurt and Joanna to get reconnected again, resulting in a marriage, in June of 2005. While Joanna has personal roots in the United Church of Christ, Kurt’s origin is to be found in the Lutheran Church, with his move into the UCC occurring in 2012, and with his ordination taking place in the UCC in 2018. The couple are brought to St. John’s, thanks in part to the denomination’s requirements for its clergy to have ecclesiastical standing in a local congregation within the Association where they reside. Lucky for us. If you were present at worship on June 23rd, then you know that Joanna is an excellent musi-cian, having served as the Director of Music at the UCC in Maine from where they are transferring their membership. She directed a choir of 5 to 8 persons during her tenure in that position, and so she says that she is impressed with the number of people who participate in St. John’s choir and bell choir. In the Fall, by the way, she will begin teaching Suzuki violin classes here in the church, for anyone who may be inter-ested. The Nelsons’ involvement at St. John’s will be influenced by Kurt’s schedule at Bucknell, of course, and we will be glad to have them as a visible part of the congregation whenever his duties allow. There are two young children in the family--Lillian, who will be 7 in September, and Elliott, 2.

EMILY WEAVEREMILY WEAVEREMILY WEAVEREMILY WEAVER

Emily is another of those folks to move recently into one of Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village’s cottages, arriv-ing in early March. Though she spent her early years in Jersey Shore, her move to Lewisburg was from Lock Haven. The move into the area here was connected to the fact that she has a daughter who happens to live in New Columbia, that daughter doing the advance legwork that brought Emily to the Buffalo Valley units. While previously a United Methodist member, it was an invitation a few months ago from her neighbor Jane Hayes which was the thing which brought her to St. John’s for her first visit. What impressed her right from the start was our music program--the choir, the bell choir, and a certain, very talented organ-ist/pianist. Additionally, she found notable the “fellowship and friendliness” of the congregation, making her feel right from the start that St. John’s was a place that would fit her quite well. “I liked it,” Emily says, “and I decided to stay.” We’re glad she did.

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The Communion offering for AugustAugustAugustAugust is dedicated to the Donald Heiter Center.Donald Heiter Center.Donald Heiter Center.Donald Heiter Center.

The Communion offering for SeptemberSeptemberSeptemberSeptember is dedicated to the Food Pantry.Food Pantry.Food Pantry.Food Pantry.

Thanks for your continued support of St. John’s missions!Thanks for your continued support of St. John’s missions!Thanks for your continued support of St. John’s missions!Thanks for your continued support of St. John’s missions!

Visit us on the Web!

www.stjohnslewisburg.org

St. John’s United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Congregation

WORSHIP HOURS

Coffee Café - 9:30 a.m.

Worship: 10:00 a.m.

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1050 Buffalo Road

Lewisburg, PA 17837

Phone: 570-523-0162

E-mail: stjohnsucc@ptd.net

No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you're

welcome here!

Save the Date

Vespers Service

On August 10August 10August 10August 10thththth from 5:00 to 8:00 PM from 5:00 to 8:00 PM from 5:00 to 8:00 PM from 5:00 to 8:00 PM a Vespers Service will be held at the Church Pavilion. Bring lawn chairs and spend the evening. Hot dogs and drinks will be provided. Please bring a dish to share. Our talented Liz DeSantis will be leading us in some camp/church songs. Ingredients for S’mores will also be provided. Come join in an evening of fun and fellowship. Invite family, a friend or neighbor.

Sponsored by the Hospitality and Growth Committee