Issue 10 October 2013

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I hope you are staying warm as the snow may be upon us. February gives us the deep cold, while are hearts are warming up for Valentine’s day. For me, I often think back when I was in elementary school and I loved picking out my cards. I made sure that all my classmates would get one. I remember that there was always a feeling of being nice to each other. I enjoyed caring for others and loving my friends. In this time of year we ask, “What is true love?”

One of the most known scripture in the Bible is the “love chapter”. St. Paul writes about true love in 1 Cor. Chapter 13.

Love is patient;(it never gives up); love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. (love cares more for others than for self.)

It does not insist on its own way; (It isn’t me first) it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, (Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others) but rejoices in the truth. (always looks for the best); 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never ends.

How will you spend this February? Will we have more time Are we able to practice loving others?

Can we give love expecting nothing in return?

Love is active and real. Many times we need to stop and practice loving ways.

Always remember, God is love. Let our guard down and feel the warmth of Je-sus Christ.

Pastor Amy

THE EVANGELIST

A monthly publ icat ion of St . John's Evangel ical Lutheran Church - Ridge Val ley St . John’s Evangel ical Lutheran Church, Ridge Val ley , 910 Allentown Road, Sel lersvi l le , PA 18960

Off ice Hours : Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 2pm Pastor—Rev. Amy Hotter Administ rat ive Assi s tant—Jennifer Nyce

Phone: 215-257-9643 E -Mail: s t johnsr idgeval ley@verizon.net Websi te: www.st johns -r idgeval ley .com Facebook: https//facebook.com/stjohnsr idgeval ley

Sunday Worship Schedule: 8:30 am–Tradit ional ; Sunday School -9:30 am (no summer) ; 10:15 am–Praise

Issue 2 A Word from the Pastor... February 2016

The Evangelist

February Scripture Schedule Date Principal Festivals First Reading Psalm Second Reading Gospel

3 Inclusions due for Council Agenda

8 Council Meeting 7pm

9 Girl Scout Meeting 6:30-8pm

10 Lent Begins

14 Annual Congregational Meeting

15 Presidents Day

17 Articles due for the Newsletter

Read the Bible in a year! Go to: http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/msg/cjan01.htm and fol-low along with their suggested readings for each day or see below. You’ll be on your way to reading the Bible as it’s events occurred in real time!

Feb 1: Ex 7-9

Feb 2: Ex 10-12

Feb 3: Ex 13-15

Feb 4: Ex 16-18

Feb 5: Ex 19-21

Feb 6: Ex 22-24

Feb 7: Ex 25-27

Feb 8: Ex 28-29

Feb 9: Ex 30-32

Feb 10: Ex 33-35

Feb 11: Ex 36-38

Feb 12: Ex 39-40

Feb 13: Lev 1-4

Feb 14: Lev 5-7

Feb 15: Lev 8-10

Feb 16: Lev 11-13

Feb 17: Lev 14-15

Feb 18: Lev 16-18

Feb 19: Lev 19-21

Feb 20: Lev 22-23

Feb 21: Lev 24-25

Feb 22: Lev 26-27

Feb 23: Num 1-2

Feb 24: Num 3-4

Feb 25: Num 5-6

Feb 26: Num 7

Feb 27: Num 8-10

Feb 28: Num 11-13

LOOKAHEAD:ING

The Evangelist

Altar Flowers Feb 21 In memory of George Kober and Owen

Kirby given by the Kober Family.

Bulletin Sponsors Please sponsor a loved one.

Candle Memorial In memory of Doris Rapp given by Rich-

ard Rapp

Memorials for

February A memorial was received in loving memory of Richard & Barbara Warmkessel from Brandy & Patricia Kehoe.

A memorial was received in loving memory of John Kogel from Nancy Esposito.

Memorials were received in loving memory of Eugene & Helen Seachrist, John Finkbeiner, Dorothy Finkbe-iner, Augusta Albrecht, and Norman Seachrist from Barbara Seachrist & Family.

Our Members:

Gene Davidheiser

Linda Marcinko

Neala Hopkins

Lynn Damm Wim-mer

Lindsay Hopkins

Mark Trouger

Our Grieving Family:

The Warmkessel/Kehoe Family

The Fallows Family

The Clark Family

The Hafler Family

The Nase Family

The Brensinger Family

Elizabeth Schmitt

Darline Dotter

Dorothy Troxel

Sandy Driscoll

Mary King

Our Homebound:

Francis Allem

Doris Barndt

Claude & Dorothy Barndt

Edna Barndt

Pauline Berndt

Helen Brensinger

Lucille Caruso

Ed Geiger

James Gotthardt

Willis & Lorraine

Heacock

Bob Kulp

Charles Marx

Tom & Blanche Matczak

Elaine Turner

Pauline Brensinger

Harold & Gert Benner

Romaine Croissette

William Turner

Our Friends:

The Evangelist

Unemployment Support Group

Every Tuesday night at 7pm

St John’s Lutheran Church

Ridge Valley

215.257.9643

ST. VALENTINE LOVED CHRIST

To be young, wealthy and in love—all in the third cen-tury. And to be a Christian. Such was young Valentine.

He would consummate his love by taking her as his bride. Soon he would be wed.

But his pleasurable, orderly world came crashing down around him when the Roman emperor declared all

Christians illegal citizens and guilty of treason. All they had to do was say, “Caesar is Lord!: But all they’d ay

was, “No, Jesus is Lord!” Rather than deny Christ, young Valentine was arrested in the crackdown.

In jail, awaiting execution in the arena, he wrote love letters to his girlfriend. Beautiful, passionate letters as-suring her of his great love for her. But theirs would be

a love not lived out. Arms never entwined in the em-brace of husband and wife. On February 14, 269, young Valentine was put to death, martyred for Jesus Christ.

Since then, Christians have celebrated his fidelity to Christ and romantic love on the 14th of February by

sending our own love letters to special people. And as we do so this year, let us, too, resolve to live for Christ

unashamedly.

Let us recall that still in our lives, as with young Valen-tine, there will be unfairness, unfulfilled longings, loneli-ness, and yet, love. Love more powerful than a tyrant’s

sword, more lasting than the centuries.

For in Christ and in heaven we shall love God and one another for all eternity. And nothing can stop us.

-Stephen Crotts

FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS We recognize that many of the members of our congregation as well as friends of St. John's own, operate or are affiliated with a fam-ily business venture, and this can include baby sitting, dog walking, sitting, mowing of grass, etc.. Please feel free to post your busi-ness card, or a little memo with regard to what might be of interest to our congregation. "We are Family...Our Congregation and Me."

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Many thanks for the won-derful out pouring of Christian love you sent my way through your thoughts, prayers, cards, ecards, visits, txts and phone calls. My spinal surgery was successful but recovery time will take over a year! I’ve been ordered to lots of rest with only ten minute walks three times a day. I spend every day around the clock in my spe-cial petite recliner which my poor over-worked husband, Denny, found especially for me! I am so thankful that I was blessed with the most wonderful husband in the world! Denny and I will return to St. John’s as soon as physically possible. We miss you! Once again, thank you for your kindess– loved hearing from all of you! We are very thankful for God’s many blessings! Linda Marcinko

YOUR CAR. . . . . . . . YOUR MARRIAGE

BOTH RUN SMOOTHER WITH A TUNE UP! Attention Married Couples: So you’ve done maintenance for your car—how about your marriage? Make 2016 the year you decide to attend a Lutheran Mar-riage Encounter Weekend to learn how to make your marriage a more intimate, loving, Christian union. Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends run from Friday night at 8 PM to Sun-day around 4 PM and have been enriching marriages of couples of all ages for 40 years! In addition to the $100 per couple registration fee, you will be given an opportunity near the end of the weekend to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish toward the continuation of the program. Two nights lodging, 5 meals for each of you, and all supplies are included. The 2016 Pennsylvania Weekends are: April 8-10, 2016 in Lancaster, PA, at the all newly-renovated Heritage Hotel Lancaster, home of the unique tree-house-inspired restaurant, “Loxley’s” April 22-24, 2016 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA, Happy Valley’s premier conference center located on a quiet hillside with views of Nittany Mountain September 16-18, 2016 at Spruce Lake Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA, a new, hotel-style facility on Spruce Lake in the heart of the Pocono Mountains – an hour north of Allentown October 21-23, 2016 at Olmsted Retreat Center, Ludlow, PA, a stunning, hotel-style retreat center adjacent to the Olmsted Mansion situated on a hillside in the Allegheny National Forest, an hour north of DuBois

Registrations are limited, so act today to ensure that you can attend the Weekend of your choice. To sign up online, go to: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and pay the registration fee using your credit card, or mark the option to mail in a check For questions, or if you would like a bro-chure mailed to you, contact Pennsylvania Directors of Lutheran Marriage En-counter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at 724-325-3166 or email: fjschamber@comcast.net.

       

 

 

 

 

The Evangelist

Lenten Wednesdays 2016 Soup Dinner at 5:30 Bible Time: 6:15-7:15

We will begin with prayer,

a short (5 -7 mins) “skit guys video”,

hearing and reflecting on the Word

wrapping up with sharing a story.

2/17/16 Matthew 4:1-11: Can I withstand temptation?

2/24/16 John 3:1-18: Can I let Jesus Make Me Uncomfortable?

3/2/16 John 4:5-42: Can I stop running from the God who knows me?

3/9/16 John 9: 1-42: Can I tell my story?

3/16/16 John 11:1-45 : Can I face Pain?

Do you know these guys? Check them out

Laugh with the Skit Guys TV Show

Want to see us on TV? You can catch our show Laugh with The Skit Guys on JCTV and the NRB Network using the following schedule.

NRB Network Schedule Friday nights at 8 PM CST

JCTV Schedule Sunday @ 1PM (PST)/4 PM (EST) & 7PM (PST)/10 PM (EST)

Monday @ 3:30 AM (PST)/ 6:30 AM (EST)

Wednesday @ 3PM (PST)/6PM (EST)

Saturday @ 11AM (PST)/2PM (EST)

We hope you enjoy the show!

***PLEASE SEE THE SOUP SIGN UP SHEET IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL! WE NEED THREE CROC”S FULL OF SOUP EACH WEDNESDAY ! THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR SHARING YOUR TIME AND FILLING OUR BELLIES!!

The Evangelist

Treasurer’s Summary

Total  $17,549.51  $17,364.00  $217,563.41  $227,783.00 

 

Large Amounts Paid  December Income  Year to Date Income 

 

SEPA Benevolence  $2,112.00  Actual Income  $20,075.50  $209,007.62 

Electric  $730.60  Budget Income  $18,180.25  $227,763.00 

Copier  $487.42   

Phone / Internet  $217.50  Plus / Minus  $1,895.25  ‐$18,755.38 

       

December Summary   

December  Year to Date 

We were able to off set the short fall in income ($18,755.38) by coming under budget in expenses ($10,219.59). This reduced the deficit to $8,555.79. If you take into consideration the short fall in parsonage rent ($6,000) we only have a 

deficit of $2,555.79 This is only 1.2%. Con‐gratulations to All 

Actual Expenses  $17,549.51  $217,563.41 

Actual Income  $20,075.50  $209,007.62 

    

Plus / Minus  $2,525.99  ‐$8,555.79 

 

Treasurer    

Dan Traynor   

If you have a question call   

C 215‐527‐8444   

H 215‐822‐1859   

The Evangelist The Evangelist

St. John’s Lutheran Church

910 Allentown Road

Sellersville, PA 18960

Place

Label

Here

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 910 Allentown Road, Sellersville, PA Office Hours: Visiting Hours Monday through Friday, 9:00— 2:00 Phone:  215‐257‐9643         E‐Mail:  stjohnsridgevalley@verizon.net       

Website:  stjohns‐ridgevalley.com       Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsridgevalley  

Worship Schedule:  8:30 am ‐ Traditional Service; 9:30 am ‐ Sunday School;  10:15 am ‐Praise Service  

St. Johns Staff:  The Rev. Amy Hotter, Pastor Mark Gottesfeld, Organist & Music Director Jennifer Nyce, Administrative Assistant Christine  Nyce, Rick Rogers , Sextons 

St. John’s Council Members: Don Graham Roy Hafler, Congregation/Council Vice President Barbara Klinger, Financial Secretary Dan Traynor, Treasurer Brenda Wall Nancy Esposito Cornell Hopkins, Congregation/Council Secretary Marianne Yeakel, Congregation/Council President Megan Yoder