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News and Events - November 19, 2020 Issue
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St. John's United Church of Christ
Jonestown
Welcomes you to Sunday Morning Worship at 10:30 AM
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This week's inspirational video...
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Thanksgiving Note:
There will not be a Community Thanksgiving Service this year.
However, Pastor is posting a Thanksgiving Family Devotional in her "Pastoral Connections" which will be sent out on Monday.
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Message to On-Line Worshippers:
We are happy that you chose to worship with us. May you experience God's presence and find spiritual renewal.
Please click on the "Worship Attendance" link below to share your experience, pastoral care requests, and prayer concerns.
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Making Connections
While we practice social distancing, remain connected.
-Send an eCard to uplift someone today!
-Post positive comments & photos to the church's Facebook page**
-Spread good, uplifting feelings about St. John's.
Let the whole world know what God is doing in and though us here at St. John's!
**To post on St. John's Facebook page, email text to administrator Peggy Miller at pimiller@comcast.net
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The Angel Tree
 St. John's will again be helping the struggling families of the Jonestown Elementary School. Because of Covid-19 there are some changes.
Gifts should not be wrapped but instead, be placed in gift bags with the angel tied or taped to the outside of the bag. This is to decrease contact with the gifts (according to the school nurse). Angels will be on the tree in the entry room this Sunday. After you choose your angels, please replace them with the Christmas ornaments hanging on the coat rack next to Carter's beautiful Christmas story. Thank you for sharing what you have with the struggling families in our neighborhood. Linda Wood |
The November/December issues have arrived and
are on the table at the church entrance.
If you want a copy mailed to you, please let Church Secretary know.
717-865-4453 or secretary@jonestownucc.org. Thanks.
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Chancel Choir Practice is still suspended;
next practice to be determined
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Bell Choir Practice - 5:15 pm Wednesday
(except the Wednesday after ringing in Church)
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To make changes to this list, call Secretary Barb
at 717-865-4453.
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Nursing Home
Shirley Haldeman
Beatrice Warlow
Florence Rhan
Ken & Fay Krumbine
Family & Friends
Wyatt Wentsler
Kaitlin Lawrence
Eric Sheaffer
Ken Bomgardner
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Members
Mary Young
Donna Breidegam
Peggy Tobias
Mike Bell
Barbara Stahl
John Snavely
Deb Snavely
Denise Reyes
Military Jason Galloway, Army, deployed Walter Reed Hospital Donna Wauthier, Army, deployed to Afghanistan Sgt. Carlos Patinoquiroz, Army, deployed to Afghanistan Maj. Kevin White, Army, deployed to Afghanistan
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Greeting Card Outreach
If you want someone to receive a card, please be sure to include
the address. Cards are sent out monthly to those on the list.
For more information, give Barb a call.
Prayer Chain
This is maintained via email. If you wish to be in the
Prayer Chain Group please advise Barb and
include your email address.
Visitation Requests
Please contact Pastor Roben Roof
Cell Phone: 717-215-7817
Office Phone: 717-865-4453
Prayers for Penn Central Conference
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."
-Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
This week, we pray for each other as we live into God's calling...
Mt. Zion UCC, York
St. Stephen's UCC, York
Shiloh UCC, York
Trinity UCC, York
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Church Office
Church Secretary, Barbara Koons, is in the office
weekdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.
If you need any assistance at a time when she is not in, please call or email her at 717-265-4637 or bak0425@comcast.net. Thank you. Be safe and God bless.
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PASTOR'S SCHEDULE
Please keep in mind that this schedule is fluid so that I can meet needs
as they arise. And I do have various monthly meetings to attend.
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JUST ACT FOR A JUST WORLD
Every day brings new beginnings and new opportunities. God's love inspires us to engage in acts of love towards our neighbors, children, and creation. Live out the Love of God and act every day towards a world worthy of God's blessings.
Look for actions in each week's "News & Events"
so you can live out God's love .
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November 19, 2020
Give thanks and share with someone moments when
you've conquered a test in your life.
James 1:12
"Blessed is anyone who endures temptation."
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A Message from our Board President, Tim Schaeffer
The church board is in need of three new members to fulfill the board at large. If you have never served on the board before, this would be an exciting time for you to consider becoming a member and join us along with Pastor Roben as we plan for the future of St. John's!
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NOTICE TO CONGREGATION
On Tuesday, November 24th, all the locks on the outside doors to the church will be changed. If you have a key it will no longer work after the 24th. You may throw away the key you currently have. If you need a new key, please contact the church secretary to request one. Thank you.
St. John's UCC Board of Directors
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IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The last day for offerings to be included in the 2020 tax year will be Sunday, December 27th. It must be in the offering plate on December 27th or mailed before that date to be counted for this year. Anything given after that Sunday will be included in 2021.
Envelopes will be renumbered again for 2021. Your number may or may not change. It's important to use the correct year's envelopes. E-givers do not have envelopes but do have a number, which will not change in 2021. The 2021 envelopes should be ready for you to pick up by mid-December.
If you have received a contribution report in past years, you will receive one again for 2020. If you haven't received a report and would like one, please contact the church office at 717-865-4453 or Peggy Miller at 717-507-4376; e-mail pimiller@comcast.net.
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Band Together (Strength Training)
Mondays & Fridays at 9:30 am
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Nar-Anon Meetings
Thursdays at 6:30 pm
Currently meetings are via phone.
Dial 717-851-7711 and enter access code 715720#
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St. John's UCC Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 8th
at 6:30 PM
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Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, December 13th
immediately following the worship service.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the 2021 budget
and to elect Members of the Church Board, Lebanon
Association Delegates, Jonestown Council of Churches,
and Penn Central Conference Delegates.
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 On the Bulletin Board in the Gathering Room there is a list of members of our congregation who are currently shut-in and unable to attend worship services. Please look at this list and if there are any other folks who should be listed, write in their name, address, and phone number so Pastor Roben can include them on her visitation schedule. Thank you very much.
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Gift Cards Available for
BG's Market - Giant - Weis Markets
To purchase gift cards in any amount,
contact Church Secretary, Barb Koons
Office Phone: 717-865-4453
Office Email: secretary@jonestownucc.org
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Attention Amazon Shoppers
If you shop on Amazon, please use www.smile.amazon.com as the web site when you do your shopping. This is a small way you can help your church. Even your family members and friends can participate.
At the top of the menu, search for St. John's United Church of Christ Jonestown. Once you select that charity anything you buy, the church will receive a portion of what you've spent. There is no difference in pricing or selections when using the smile.amazon.com web site.
Thank you for supporting St. John's UCC
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IMPORTANT NOTE
If you have tested positive for Covid-19 or have been exposed to someone with the Coronavirus, please call Christie Schaeffer and
let her know -- 717-304-3775. This is necessary
for the purpose of tracking exposures at
St. John's. Thank you for your help.
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Continue practicing Safety regarding Coronavirus COVID-19
Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Maintain social distancing.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Seek medical care early if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
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Enjoy the Convenience of Electronic Giving
It is encouraging to see both new and familiar faces at our worship services. Throughout the year, many of you already support the congregation with your time, talent and financial contributions but greater participation is always welcome. We encourage you to look into our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to set up a recurring giving plan. Contact the church office for more details or pick up an authorization form today.
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What is call-em-all?
In an effort to keep you more informed about what is happening at St. John's UCC, like special services, or winter closings or other special happenings etc. the church is going to begin using a phone dialing system to contact all our members. The new phone dialing system will also be used for Sunday morning cancellations due to weather related issues in addition to radio and television announcements.
How does it work?
You will receive a phone message recorded by either the Pastor of the Church or the Board President informing you of what is happening at the church. This is not a "robo" call but rather a direct call using the church phone number 717-865-4453 and will show up as coming from St. John's UCC. You will have the option at the end of the call to "opt out" if you no longer want to be contacted by the church. The system will leave a voice mail message if you do not answer and works with both land lines as well as cell phones.
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November 19, 2020
Members and friends of Penn Central Conference-
Meditation based on Psalm 46 to calm our hearts in the midst of turmoil...
 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult."
We can relate to the psalmist, can we not? With the uptick in COVID cases, the continued turmoil as our country attempts to unite, our intense desire to seek health in the midst of COVID fatigue, peace in the midst of division. We certainly are feeling the earth change, the mountains shake, the waters roar and foam. And yet, we know deep within our hearts God is with us:
"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city,] it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."
And how we long for that river to flow with nourishing streams. We may not feel very nourished right now. We may feel like a people in an endless desert. And yet, we know, deep, deep within our hearts, God is our refuge: "Be still, and know that I am God! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."
It's so very hard to be still. We wiggle and squirm as we hear case after case, warning after warning of illness, of turmoil. And we quake, and we shake, and we cry out "Where are you God?" And as Elijah discovered, God is not always felt in those anxious stormy times, in our experience of the wind or earthquake or fire. God's constant presence is most often deeply sensed in the silence-sheer silence. "Be still and know that I am God", the psalmist claims to have heard. Perhaps we need to sit in the midst of the wind and earthquake and fire of our experience in this world right now-to sit in silence. Perhaps we, like the psalmist, will then hear God say: "Be still, and know that I am God". And we will know, if just for those moments, God is still with us, God is yet our refuge.
Peace and blessing upon us all,
Marisa Laviola
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