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News and Events - October 29, 2020 Issue
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St. John's United Church of Christ
Welcomes you to
Sunday Morning Worship
at 10:30 am
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A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW PASTOR
Greetings St. John's Church Family,
I am excited about my first official Sunday at St. John's, growing spiritually together, building relationships, connecting with the community, and doing the mission of the Church in the world.
Since prayer is foundational to the life of the church, I am asking for a different person each week to join me in prayer at 9:00AM Monday mornings in person or via phone. We will pray for the needs of the church and community and dedicate St. John's to God weekly. Sign-up sheets for Monday morning prayer, weekly pastoral visits, and shut-in visits are on the church bulletin board or you can call the church secretary to place your name and number on the list.
Many years ago, when I was ordained, the conference minister preached from Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the p ower of God unto salvation." This verse has been my guide throughout the years to remember that Christ is the "sole head" of the church and it is because of and through Christ that we have our purpose and power.
Through the power of Christ, Ministering Together and Touching lives,
Pastor Roben
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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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JOYful Information
48 W. Market Street, Jonestown
The JOY pantry wants to make Thanksgiving boxes for every family this year. We are in need of the following items:
Stuffing mix
Boxed or canned potatoes
Corn or mixed vegetables
Gravy
Canned fruit
Cake mix + frosting
(We have plenty of sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and canned pumpkin)
Financial donations will be used to purchase turkeys and ham slices for the smaller households.
Your prayers for our ministry are appreciated as well.
Linda Wood, Volunteer Director
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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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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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October 29, 2020
Do a devotional at sunrise and sunset.
Psalm 113:3
"From the rising of the sun to its setting the name
of our God is to be praised."
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October 29, 2020
Members and friends of Penn Central Conference
Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'
-Luke 23.42
 Last week while hiking at Hemlock Gorge in Maryland my husband and I came upon a small graveyard. Within the fenced, leaf-covered grounds were the remains of those who had lived in a tiny settlement called Hoffmanville on the banks of the creek. The first white settlers at the site were members of the Hoffman family and they built a paper mill in 1775. I worked to decipher names and dates as I walked through the plots, recognizing immediately that many were children. In the corner was a large, more recent granite monument from the 1980s that had all of the names and dates of everyone buried in the grounds. As expected, quite a few were children. I read through the names and dates and then reached the end of the list. And the very last line read, "Many of their faithful slaves are buried here also." Sometimes the brutality of American history sneaks up on me. I face a terrible historical fact with no preparation and I am struck speechless. I am aware that no words of mine can match, erase or properly acknowledge the reality of whole families of slaves being buried without names or recognition. I cannot deny the stark privilege of having access to a list of my ancestors' names and dates within an extensive genealogy. Nor can I fail to recognize my place in a family within a social group that would never be relegated to an anonymous bottom line on a gravemarker in the woods. Many of you know that I am passionate about history. I am passionate about the importance of memory (social and personal) and raising up events, people and places that have been forgotten. I am painfully aware that my Puritan ancestors sold their own kin into slavery (for being Quakers) and my highly admired ancestor Roger Williams encouraged the sale of Native Americans into slavery who were refugees from King Phillip's War. In that moment in the Maryland graveyard I knew (again) that I must do what I can to lift and acknowledge the lives of those who have died while enslaved so that they will not be relegated to the unremembered dead. This is no small feat and can only be undertaken with humility and a spirit of repentance. This weekend is when we usually celebrate All Saints Day. We gather names of those who have passed before us and we lift them in recognition and in praise for their faithfulness. This Sunday I want to lift up those who were not nameless, but whose names have been involuntarily changed, removed, forgotten or lost. I believe that our God knows each person by heart. The names may be lost to humanity, yet God knows and God holds the souls - of those who were victims as well as perpetrators, the slaves and the free, the just and the unjust. God remembers. As we read in Psalm 56, "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record?" Peace, Rev. Dr. Carrie Call, Conference Minister
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Time to Update The Prayer Requests
Please call or email the church secretary to ask that someone remain on OR be added to the list. Except for Nursing Home and Military, all other names will be removed unless I receive requests to keep them on.
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Nursing Home
Shirley Haldeman G
Beatrice Warlow G
Florance Rhan
Ken & Fay Krumbine G
Family & Friends
Paisley Brame G
Damien Lawrence G
Sarah Serikstad G
Lee Sabatini
Baby Wyatt
Cheryl Long
Dan Arminavage
Kaitlin Lawrence
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Members
Tyler Haag G
Mary Young G
Donna Breidegam G
Peggy Tobias G
Mike Bell G
Barbara Stahl
John Snavely
Military
Jason Galloway, Army - active currently deployed at Walter Reed Hospital
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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...
Trinity UCC, Waynesboro Mazeppa Union, Lewisburg
St. Paul's UCC, West Milton St. Peter's UCC, Lewisburg
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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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Program Ministries Team Meeting
Wednesday, November 4th at 6:30 PM
Pastor Parish Relations Committee Meeting
Thursday, November 5th at 6:30 PM
Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 10th, 6:30 pm
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Band Together (Strength Training)
Mondays & Fridays at 9:30 am
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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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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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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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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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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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