THE ST. LUKE LETTER January 2016
Tuesday, January 05, 2016
Happy New Year! What a blessing it is for us to begin another year blooming with promise and potential;
knowing that for God all things are possible.
As I write this note, I am celebrating my birthday. By God’s grace, I’ve been able to enjoy forty-eight years of
life. What a blessing! I particularly appreciate this birthday because it means I’ve now traveled past the year in
which my father had his first heart attack and still remain in good health. How blessed we are by all that God
does through modern science and medicine. How blessed we are that the Holy Spirit tugs away at us, constantly
prodding us to live healthier lives.
Later this year, Julia and I will celebrate our fourteenth wedding anniversary. How blessed I am to have her in
my life. By God’s grace, I somehow managed to marry up. And to top it all off, on June 12th
, I’ll celebrate my
twelfth anniversary of ordination. How blessed we are when we manage to find our calling in life through the
ministrations of the Holy Spirit. How blessed we are period!
Have you counted your blessings lately? With one year behind us and another before us, it would certainly be a
good thing to do. In fact, it’s a good thing to count our blessings on a daily basis. It helps us to keep things in
proper perspective. With the temporary gift-giving season of Christmas soon over, every day is the perfect time
to remember that God gives good things all year long, all of our lives long.
Blessed to Know, Love, and Serve You,
Pastor Scott
The St. Luke Prayer Group will resume meeting on Wednesday, January 6th at 10:00 am in Pastor Scott's Office. We will meet every Wednesday morning in January.
St. Luke Weekly Worship Schedule: Worship Services are held at 8:00 am and 10:30 am every Sunday morning. Special Services are held at Thanksgiving, Advent, Lent and Holy Week.
The 8:00 am service is a simple service of the Word where Holy Communion is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of each month. The 10:30 am service is a more traditional worship service with additional liturgy and hymns. At the 10:30 am service, the adult choir blesses us with their gifts from September through June and Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.
Looking ahead…If you have news or articles for the February 2016 issue of the Parish Pen Newsletter, please submit them to the church office on or before Tuesday, January 26th.
Class: Teachers:
Pre-K Krystal Josephson and Nicki Shunk Kindergarten to Third Grade Kim Praskovich and Sabrina Wert Fourth to Sixth Grade Dave Bierlein Confirmation Class Pastor Scott Teen Class Danette Strouse Adult Class Shawn Lehman and Tom Sharer
We gather as a group at 9:15 am for a brief “Good Morning” for all classes led by Pastor Scott.
The Adult Class, Confirmation Students and Teen Class then disperse for their class time while the
Pre-K through Sixth Grade students have music from 9:25-9:40 and classroom time from 9:40-10:15 am.
On Sunday, January 24th, there will be a light brunch in the Fellowship Hall following the 8 am service and part of Sunday School hour from approximately 9–9:30 am. We hope you will plan on joining us.
Prayer Concerns Pray for the recovery and the Lord’s healing and peace on our brothers and sisters. Amy Homan...surgery for cancer on Jan 12 Betty Ishler...recov. from surgery Pam Lohr...recov. from brain surgery Brenda Umshares...breast cancer Oscar Blankenmeyer...undergoing radiation Angela Cain...breast cancer Faith Wheeler...health concerns Don Shawver...recov. from heart surgery On-going Prayer Concerns: Robert Sauerwein…pacemaker adjustment Amy Bremer…cancer Timmy Parson…cancer Larry Hedtke...cancer Marvin Lehman, Jr....MS Denny McCloskey...health concerns Nancy Spangler...cancer Sharon O’Hara...cancer Tom Robinson…health concerns Josh Mack...tumor Mary Byler...cancer Josh Hardy...cancer Robert McDaniel...cancer LaRee Shirey...pancreatic cancer Vicki Garvin...kidney disease Joe Perez...bladder cancer Dorothy Baer...faith Lynn Perlongo...cancer Michelle Marini...breast cancer C. Stull...cancer Chris Bellocchio...cancer Claire Milner...cancer Mardi McDonough...cancer Clair (Abbie) Hollobaugh...cancer John H. Stoltzfus...bone cancer Russ Sauerwein...back pain Pastor Denise Arpino...cancer Cecil Poston...failing health Tony Arpino...cancer Mike Rockey...cancer Helen Miller..failing health Lynn Miller...falls Tucker Brownson...heart problems Jen Parsons...recov. from surgery Ella Myer...mission work Deb Homan...cancer Amy Meyers...brain tumor Dan Richard...cancer John Dunlap...lung cancer Melissa Wolfe...back pain Mike McClenahan...self-care Brandon Zlupko...cancer Scott Bair...cancer Dorothy Chambers...health concerns Ella Burns...cancer Liz Perez...spinal stenosis Chuck Derr..heart concerns Brooke Homan...cancer Eileen Barnes...recov. from surgery Donna Fetterolf—sciatica/mobility Oscar Blankenmeyer...lymphoma Grace Baker...breast cancer Vincent Nicosia & Family...deployment Luanna Howard...cancer/chemotherapy Maddie Rupe...kidney cancer Mike Morrison…health concerns Ruth Luse...hearing Marty Ilgen...heart issues Juliana Elise Kessler...very premature birth Katie Smith...brain tumor Melissa McChesney...cancer Paul Dietrich...cancer Please pray also for the health of our Shut-ins: Larry Breon (PO Box 27, Rebersburg, PA 16872...349-8846) Fred and Miriam Burris (186 Blackhawk Road, Centre Hall, PA 16828...364-1575) Betty Dutrow (Wynwood House, Room 3, 122 Wynwood Drive, Centre Hall, PA ...814-531-4875) Ruth Foust (Room 715, 4702 East Main St., Belleville, PA 17004)) Fred Lohr, Jr. (244 S. Pennsylvania Ave, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-9368) Pam McClenahan (432 S Pennsylvania Ave, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-1576) Margaret (Peg) McClenahan (107 Manor Road, Apt 4, Centre Hall, PA 16828…364-1791) Edna Meyer (Centre Crest, 502 E. Howard Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823) Bruce and Virginia Moyer (PO Box 313, Centre Hall, PA 16828...364-1870 Alice Witmer (Centre Crest, 502 E. Howard Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823) If you would like to add or remove someone from the prayer list: You may fill out a prayer concern request located in the Narthex and in each pew pad and place in the offering plate or you may notify the church office at 364-9154 or email the church office at [email protected] . Please remember that a prayer request will remain on the prayer list for three weeks unless otherwise noted as an ongoing concern. Also, please remember to notify the church office when someone is able to be removed from the prayer list. You may renew a prayer request as often as you wish. - Updated 1/5/16
Jan. 31 Kerry and Tina O’Hara
Jan. 1 Paul Dietrich
Fred Lohr
2 Marjorie Korman
3 Russ Judy
5 Pastor Scott Klimke
6 Paige Kubalak
7 Virginia Struble
9 Scott McAllister
11 Don Brown
12 Cindy Foust
15 Donald Rudy
16 Linda Decker-Reitz
17 Dean Crater
Lucas Homan
18 Alice Witmer
19 Colten Shunk
20 Ava Kresovich
21 Seth Decker
22 Becky Schluter
24 Don Anderson
26 Bob Shawver
30 N. Roy Thompson
We officially welcome Rick Homan, who became a
member of St. Luke on December 22, 2015, through
the transfer of membership.
St. Luke Congregation,
Thank you for all your support through
prayers and encouraging words. I am looking
forward to continuing good results from the
treatments.
-Luanna Howard
St. Luke Congregation,
We truly appreciate the many prayers,
thoughts and gifts of love we received during our
time of need. We are so thankful for a wonderful
church family.
-Marty and Gerry Ilgen
St. Luke Congregation,
Thank you to the church family. I
appreciate your kindness, thoughts and prayers.
-Paul "Fox" Dietrich
St. Luke Carolers,
Thank you carolers of St. Luke for the
beautiful Christmas carols, what a welcome
surprise. It warmed my heart and I'm sure the Lord
was very happy to hear the beautiful voices singing
praises to his name. You made my Christmas and
again thank you all so very much.
-Evelyn McClenahan
WEEKLY WORSHIP VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE DATE GREETER
8:00 AM GREETER 10:30 AM
ACOLYTE 8:00 AM
ACOLYTE 10:30 AM
READER 10:30 AM
WORSHIP ASSISTANT 10:30 AM
COMMUNION ASSISISTANT
Jan 3
Joan Confer & Cliff Waltz
Angela Anderson & Josette Schluter
Baylor Shunk
Open Shawn Lehman
Al Spotts Shawn Lehman
Jan 10
Susan Wolfe & Gary Zellers
Jean Lohr & Gladys Sampsel
Dayna Brown
Open Kathy Long
Peg Leedy Josette Schluter
January 17
Sarah Bierlein & Connie Zellers
Don Anderson and Sue Royer
Tori Meyer Open Earl Leedy Danette Strouse
Lois Albright
January 24
Michele Brown & Nicki Shunk
Kyle and Ryan Lehman
Faith Wolfe Open Evelyn Reeder
Tom Sharer Tracy Noll (8 am) and Barb McAllister (10:30 am)
January 31
Catherine Bierlein & Charolette Waltz
Sumner Kessinger & Evelyn McClenahan
Sierra Witherite
Open Joe Pawell Pat Strouse Jean Lohr
February 7
Don Shawver & Kenny Strouse
Judy Homan & Linda Murphy
Maggie Delaney
Open Holli Kubalak
Norma Crater Jim Shunk
February 14
Dorothy Rudy & Al Spotts
Krystal Josephson & Patty Lehman
Jillian Anderson
Open Walt Schluter
Evelyn Reeder Larry Frazier
DATE ALTAR FLOWERS
COMMUNBREAD
ALTAR GUILD
USHERS COUNTERS
Jan 3
Poinsettias Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer
Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer (January)
_________ Michele and Dayna Brown (February)
Patty Lehman (Head), Tom Sharer, Evelyn Reeder and Kerry O’Hara (January)
__________________ Open (February)
Pat Strouse & Deb Frazier
Jan 10
Shari Welch Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer
Cindy Grove & Lois Albright
January 17
Gary & Connie Zellers
Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer
Open
January 24
Paul & Betty Dietrich
Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer
Open
January 31
Open Donna Fetterolf & Sue Royer
Open
February 7
Open Shari Welch Open
February 14
________ Shari Welch ---------------
--------------------------------
Open
The Centre Hall/Potter Food & Fuel Pantry will have their next monthly food distribution on Tuesday, January 19 at Grace United Methodist Church, from 12:30 PM until 4:00 PM. If you are able to volunteer, arrive at 8:00 am.
Paper products (paper towels and toilet paper) as well as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and cake mixes are always needed and cannot be purchased with State or Federal funds. If you would like to donate items, please have the items at St. Luke Lutheran Church on or before Sunday, January 17. There is a donation box located in the Narthex.
Volunteers are always needed…to pack on distribution days or to sign up to unload food when it arrives at Grace Church. If you can help unload food, you will be called the day before the truck arrives. Please call Bonnie Brown 364-1541, Eileen Booz 364-1675 or Erskine Cash 364-9184 if you can help.
The Quilting Group will meet on Tuesday, January 12th from 9 am to 2:30 pm.
On Monday, January 11, St. Luke will hold the monthly Committee and Council Night. St. Luke has four different committees that meet on a monthly basis. The Community Relations Committee, Congregational Relations Committee, Spiritual Relations Committee and Property Committee will meet at 6:45 pm in the Sanctuary for a brief discussion and prayer with Pastor Scott and then each committee will meet individually from 7-8 pm in the basement Fellowship Hall. Please consider becoming involved in one of St. Luke’s Committees. Whichever committee may interest you, they would love to hear your fresh perspective and new ideas. The St. Luke Council will
meet from approx. 8-9 pm. Our newly elected Council Members for 2016 are: Don Anderson, Larry Frazier, Scott McAllister and Susan Stover. Robert Long has been reelected as a representative for the Cemetery Association. Please thank the outgoing Council Members for their dedicated service over the past three years…Deb Frazier, Cindy Grove, Tom Sharer and Shari Welch.
The St. Luke Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, January 24th, following both services. Confirmed members who have communed and made a contribution of record in 2015 or 2016 shall be eligible to vote.
Council and Committee chairpersons, please remember to turn in your annual reports
by Thursday, January 14th.
Guest Speaker—On January 17, 2016, during the Sunday school time, Carol Falke, of “Hope Made Real” will present a short video about the Urukundo School, Children’s Home and a Mother and Baby House in Rwanda, Africa. Carol works to raise funds and travels to Rwanda frequently taking baby items, lessons for the school (which teachers around Centre County have prepared) and other supplies. The Urukundo Children’s Home was built first and the school erected one classroom at a time. A grade five room is the most recent addition. This is an ongoing mission work that churches, girl scouts and community organizations have entered into. Connie Cousins is traveling with Carol and two others in March and will be working with the staff in Rwanda. Come at 9:15 a.m. Coffee and pastries will be available.
Lost and Found—If anyone found a pink iPod, please notify the church office. Likewise, if anyone lost a Christmas Wreath pin, please notify the church office. Poinsettias—Anyone who ordered poinsettias, or would just like to have one, should take them by this Sunday, January 10th.
Prayers requested for Amy Homan as she undergoes surgery for bilateral breast cancer on January 12, 2016. In addition friends and family have set up a meal schedule to provide meals for the family as Amy concentrates on recovery. Click on the link if you are interested in participating and/or providing a meal. http://www.TakeThemAMeal.com/meals.php?t=NQVP3701
If you would like to sign up on the schedule you will need to put in a password, Amy (Capital A) when prompted. If you know of someone who does not have access to the internet and wants to help out, please contact Barb Judy at 814-422-8849.
On Wednesday, January 13th at 8:15 am, we will be taking down the Christmas decorations. Any and all who are available to help, please meet in the Sanctuary.
By participating in the Thrivent Choice charitable outreach program, more that 270,000 eligible Thrivent members have helped make good things happen for more than 22,000 congregations and nonprofit organizations nationwide by directing Choice Dollars since the program’s launch in 2010. Eligible Thrivent members are designated Choice Dollars throughout the year, based on their insurance and annuity premiums, contract values and standing as a Thrivent volunteer leader. They can direct Choice Dollars to thousands of nonprofit organizations nationwide. Thrivent members have until March 2016 to designate their Thrivent Choice dollars accrued in 2015.
St. Luke Lutheran Church will cancel all scheduled activities, including office hours, whenever the Penns Valley School District shuts down due to weather-related concerns. In addition to accessing weather-related closures on local television, the Penns Valley School District also posts closure information on its web site which can be visited at pennsvalley.org.
January 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Happy New Year!
2 AA Meeting 7 pm
3
4 Cub Scout Den Meeting 6-7 pm
5 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Sewing Day 9 am to 2:30 pm
6 Prayer Group 10 am
7 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
Ministry Planning Meeting 6:15 pm
Choir Rehearsal 7 pm
8
9 AA Meeting 7 pm
10
Celebration of all January Baptisms during both worship services.
11 Committee & Council Meetings 6:45 pm
12 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
13
Taking Down Christmas Decorations 8:15 am
Prayer Group 10 am
14 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
Choir Rehearsal 7 pm
15
16 AA Meeting 7 pm
17 Guest Speaker, Carol Falke, of "Hope Made Real" during Sunday School Hour 9:15-10:15 am
18 Martin Luther King
Jr. Day
Cub Scout Den Meeting 6-7 pm
19 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm Food Bank distribution 12:30 to 4 pm at Grace UMC
20 Prayer Group 10 am
21 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
Choir Rehearsal 7 pm
22
23 AA Meeting 7 pm
24 St Luke Annual Congregational Meeting following both services. Brunch Fellowship 9-9:30 am
25
26 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
27 Prayer Group 10 am
28 Church Office Hours 9 am to 2 pm
Choir Rehearsal 7 pm
29
30 AA Meeting 7 pm
31
Notes: Sunday Worship Services 8 am and 10:30 am. Youth and Adult Sunday School and Confirmation Classes 9:15-10:15 am each Sunday Boy Scout Troop 20 meets Sunday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm
St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 301 North Pennsylvania Ave. P. O. Box 331 Centre Hall, PA 16828 Return Service Requested
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Mission Statement: Inviting all into relationship with Christ, Church and Community
St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church Centre Hall, Pennsylvania