CHRISTMAS TIME, 2014

“In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was

God. John 1:1

Lloyd C. Douglas, noted author of The

Robe, tells of visiting an elderly friend.

Douglas greeted his life-long music teacher

with this question: “Well professor what’s the

good news for today?” Instead of answering

immediately, the man walked toward a tuning

fork suspended from the ceiling by a silk

cord. He struck the fork with a mallet,

producing a pure and beautiful tone.

That my friend, is “A”. It was “A” all

day yesterday. It will be “A” all day

tomorrow. It will be “A” next week and for a

thousand years. Indeed it will be “A” forever.

The soprano upstairs warbles off key, the

tenor next door flats his high notes, and the

piano across the hall is out of tune. But that

“A” he exclaims, as he strikes the fork again,

is an “A” forever. And that is the good news

for today.

It is the good news for John as well, as

he boldly asserts the eternality of Jesus

Christ. God is with His people forever in the

Incarnation of his Son into our world.

Christmas seasons will come and go but the

essence of Christmas will remain forever.

The latest “hot” gifts will recede into our

memories – remember the Cabbage Patch

Doll - and perhaps be brought out to laugh

about in later years, but the birth of Jesus is

always centered in our minds.

God has given us the gift of a direct and

intimate relationship with Himself, available

at any moment along the continuum of time.

Worship with us this Christmas and share in

that moment that lasts forever, the birth that

is for all times and all seasons. This is the

“A” position.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Burl Latshaw

Annual reports are due no later then January

5th to the church office. Thank you.

Articles for the Messenger, for February, are

due no later then January 12th. Thank you.

Saturday Night Worship Service will be

held on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 5:30

PM.

Greetings from the Youth Director!

Our youth chats the last two months have

revolved around sharing our God given

gifts. In lieu of a youth chat in December

the Sunday School children will be sharing

their talents with a poetic play entitled,

“From the Manger”. Please join us on

Sunday, December 21 at 10:15 a.m. as these

children share with us the gift of the

Christmas story.

Lord, help us not to lose sight of the

blessings that you have bestowed upon us.

Guide and encourage us to use the gifts we

have been given to serve you by sharing

them with others. And may we never lose

sight of our greatest, your son, Jesus Christ,

our Lord, in whose name we pray.

Amen.

Lydia Beck stjohnsyouthdirector@comcast.net

St. John’s T-Shirts - Youth Fundraiser

Shirts have arrived. If you

have not received your t-shirt

order, contact Lydia Beck.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Age 2 - Grade 6 for Sunday School

Grades 7+ for Catechetical Classes

OUR CHILDREN NEED YOU!

The Sunday School program has been

growing which means we are in need of

teachers! Prayerfully consider

sharing one week or more

each month to teach a Sunday

School class. Each lesson

and supplies are prepared for

you. The lessons give you a

script to follow. Prep time is

minimal. Prior to teaching

you would be scheduled to

observe a class and have an orientation. An

hour or more a month can impact so many

children’s lives. As part of our safety policy,

all teachers will have child abuse and

criminal check screenings. See Lydia Beck or

Judy Levermore today.

Advent Sunday School Project

The children will be collecting items to

supply care packages to children and youth

being placed in foster care through Diakon

Adoption and Foster Care. Starting at the end

of November items can be placed in

collection bins in the auditorium and Primary

Sunday School classroom. Jaime Wert is

coordinating this event.

Please support the Sunday School Advent

project by contributing items from the

following list. Items are for age ranges Infant

through School Age (up to age 12). All items

donated must be new. Used items cannot be

accepted. Donation Deadline is December

21. Pacifiers

Bottle set

Diapers: NB, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Wipes

Baby Body Wash (no tears)

Baby Shampoo (no tears)

Socks

Sleep and Play outfits

Onesies

Swaddle blankets

Burp cloths

Pack of bibs

Baby hairbrush

Baby tooth brush

Baby nail clippers

Baby Lotion

Diaper Rash Cream

Sleepers

Receiving blankets

Nasal aspirator

Hair brush/comb set

Youth Toothbrush/Toothpaste

Toddler silverware set

No tears Body Wash

No Tears shampoo

Outfits (Ages 1 – 5)

Pajamas (Ages 1 – 12)

Sippy cups

Blanket

Large Bibs

Pull-ups

Underwear (Ages 3-12)

Socks (Ages 3-12)

De-tangler spray

Hair bands/accessories

Backpack

Brush

Collapsible hamper

Overnight duffle bag

Thermometer

No Classes There are no Sunday School or Catechism

Classes on December 28, 2014. Classes

resume on Sunday, January 4, 2015.

Sunday, December 21 @ 10:15 a.m.

during the Family Worship Service

The Sunday School children have been busy

rehearsing for this poetic play. Rehearsals

continue each Sunday in December during

the Sunday School Hour. Children should

arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. on Sunday,

December 21 to be costumed for a dress

rehearsal.

Join us after church for milk and cookies at

the Welcome Table sponsored by the

Sunday School students and parents.

Thank you to the teachers, volunteer

helpers, children, praise choir, and Kate

Kauffman for their time and dedication to

the Christmas program! Special thanks to

Judy Levermore for directing the play and

creating the scenery! Committee Meetings Parish Education Committee Meeting

Sunday, January 18

8:30 a.m.

Primary Sunday School Room

Youth Ministry Committee Thursday, December 4 &

Thursday, January 8

7:00 p.m.

Auditorium

Youth Group: For 6th

-12th

Grade

Laurel Center: Christmas Caroling

Sunday, December 7

6:45 p.m. meet at the Laurel Center

Anyone is welcome to

join the youth group as

we sing Christmas carols

together.

Sunday, December 21

After worship

Junior Sunday School Room

Come for an afternoon of Christmas

celebrations. We will be making plans for

our 2015 activities.

Laurel Center: January Activity TBD

Sunday, January 4

6:45 meet at the Laurel Center

The first Sunday of each month is Laurel

Night. This activity will be determined in

December.

Board, not Bored, Game Day

Sunday, January 18

After worship

in the Junior Sunday School Room.

Bring your favorite board games for an

afternoon of not being bored. Plans will be

made for a winter lock-in/retreat.

Bear Creek Camp

Connect Winter 2015

Grades 7-12: January 16-18

Grades 4-8: February 6-8

A super fun winter weekend event at Bear

Creek Camp including cool music, wonderful

friends, great food, games, activities, free

time, small groups, carpetball, foosball,

awesome counselors, and fabulous skits. Fee:

$110 (a $25 non-refundable deposit is

required to register.)

Family Faith Challenge

December: God in Incarnation

We challenge you to look for God in and

among us.

November 30-

December 6: Read together

Isaiah 7:13. Here

God makes a

promise to come

and live with us.

Immanuel means “God with us.” Use a baby

book or Google your name and find the

meaning of your name. What are other names

for Jesus besides Immanuel and Jesus?

December 7-13: Read together Isaiah 11:1-

10. Here Isaiah tells us that peace will come.

What does peace on earth look like? Draw a

picture of what your idea of peace looks like

and post it on Facebook.

December 14-20: Read together Luke 2:1-20.

Yea! Jesus is born! God keeps God’s

promises! Who was there to celebrate Jesus’

birth? Who was there to celebrate your birth?

Jesus was there too! Jesus is with you now!

Watch the video together at

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=231

484820308656.

December 21-27: Read together Luke 2:22-

40. Many people were glad to hear and see

that Jesus was born. God kept God’s promise

to Simeon and Anna. When you thank God

for Jesus what do you say? Sing your favorite

Christmas song together.

UN-WRAPPING THE MESSIAH

There will be an Adult Learning Class on

the subject of the Messiah as part of our

Christmas preparation. We will use the

Biblical texts surrounding the Christmas

story and look back at the prophetic

announcements regarding the birth of Jesus.

SUNDAY – Dec. 7 & 21. These sessions

will be held during the Sunday School hour

and begin at 9 AM in the Junior Dept.

Room.

WEDNESDAY – Dec. 3, 10, & 17. These

sessions will begin at 7 PM in the Junior

Dept. Room.

Please plan to join us for this

UNWRAPPING” celebration of the birth of

our Lord.

Pastor Burl Latshaw

The Annual Congregational Meeting

of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015

following the 10:15 AM Worship Service.

The 2015 Budget and Eelction of Council

Members will be on the agenda.

A delicious meal will be served by our

Boy Scouts.

Sunday Family Worship Sunday, December 21 at 10:15 a.m.

The Sunday Family Worship Service is

Sunday, December 21 at 10:15 a.m. During

the family service, special music is done by

the Youth Choir. St. John’s will continue to

“Make a Joyful Noise” for ELCA World

Hunger Appeal. Please remember to bring

your coins, and help the children “make a

joyful noise.” The Sunday Family Worship

service is the third Sunday of each month at

10:15 a.m.

Luke Vincent Karle, born March 5, 2014 in

the Reading Hosptial, will be baptized on

December 7, 2014 son of Kimberly Robin

Karle.

Megan Elizabeth Ann Karle, born December

6, 2006 in the Abington Hospital, will be

baptized on December 7, 2014 daughter of

Kimberly Robin Karle.

Patrick Tyler Gillett, born on January 27,

2014 in the Allentown Hospital, will be

baptized on December 21, 2004 son of Mary

Catherine (Weyandt) Gillett and Edward

Thomas Gillett.

Laci Joline Stetzler, born on January 16, 2014

in St. Joseph’s Hospital was baptized on

November 30, 2014 daughter of Kailyn

Nicole (Rohrbach) Stetzler and Steven Mark

Stetzler.

On Volunteer Day, Oct. 22, 2014, there were

28 people who worked from 8:30 AM to app.

2:30 PM to put together a 8,611 piece Tree of

Remembrance mailing for Berks County

Visiting Nurses Association Hospice.

Twelve of the volunteers were members of

the Thrivent Chapter, so Thrivent Financial

Services will give $1,000 to Berks Visiting

Nurses from the chapter of which St. John’s

is part of with additional moneys from other

county Thrivent Chapters.

There was also a 500 piece mailing for the

Salvation Army.

Chef Dee Kistler, Merribeth Levan, and Mary

Ann Lengel, with the help from various Prep

Chef’s, made 20 gal. of our special St. John’s

Chili and delivered it to new Journey Soup

Kitchen in Reading.

Coffee, drinks, pastries and Bar-B-Q for

lunch was supplied by the Social Minstrey

Committee and volunteers.

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all who

gave of their time for this project. What

would we do without volunteers?????

ACCESSIBILITY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER

2, 2014

Thirteen 'seniors' (age 80 and above) who

attended the Accessibility luncheon after

The Service on All Saints Sunday,

November 2nd, collectively logged 1209

years !!!!....the prize going to Mrs. Ruth

Wessner, 102. Some 30 other folks with

'challenges', family members, friends, and

Social Ministry volunteer servers were

present, too. Pastor Kistler led a brief sing-

along,..which included the Senior version of

"Jesus Loves Me". Youth Director, Lydia

Beck, and family were introducted. Then

Interim Pastor Latshaw and Mrs. Latshaw

were introduced to the group, and Pastor

Kistler asked Pastor to explain his first

name, "Burlington",..and why he prefers just

"Pr. Burl". (His mother called him

"Burlington" when he was in trouble!!). He

and Mrs. Latshaw described their interest

and participation in ballroom dancing and

sacred dance; ( Mrs. Latshaw interpreted the

October 26 Prelude with sacred dance). The

group was introduced to the Latshaws BY

AGE...with Ruth Wessner topping the list at

102. Pastor Latshaw commended the

seniors and 'challenged' persons for being

the 'pioneers' in supporting St. John's, and

offered a prayer of thanks for the faithful

'saints' and blessing on the food....which

was a delicious lunch of chicken noodle

soup, turkey barbecue, chips, jello, ice

cream, cookies, tea and coffee. At the

dessert 'break', the group thanked Doug and

Joan Adams, in charge of this year's

program, and the Social Ministry

Committee servers. Mrs. Uhler gave an

update on Pr. Uhler's health progress, soon

to come home from the hospital, and then

more therapy at home. Social Ministry

Committee wishes to thank all family

members and friends who assisted our

seniors and 'challenged' members to attend.

Church Council has called a Special

Congregational Meeting for December 7,

2014 immediately following the 10:15 AM

worship service. The sole purpose of this

meeting will be to review the report of The

Renovation Committee concerning the

Sanctuary Beautification Project Proposal.

Please make every effort to attend this very

important meeting to vote on the

project.

December 28 Altar Flowers, Bulletins

& Order of Service

January 4 Altar Flowers, Bulletins

& Order of Service

January 11 Altar Flowers &

Bulletins

January 18 Altar Flowers, bulletins

& Order of Service

January 25 Bulletins & Order of

Service

6:30 PM Pre-Service Music

7:00 PM Family Service/Youth Choir

Sings

8:30 PM Festivel of Lights w/Holy

Communion

10:30 PM Pre-Christmas Service Music

11:00 PM Christmas Eve Candelight

Service

We did a massive Newsletter mailing for the

December/January issue. The newsletter will

also be on our new website

www.stjohnshamburg.org.

We will not be doing a massive mailing

starting February.

Please notify the office by January 5th if you

need a hard copy. Copies of the Newsletter

will be available in the rear of the Church.

WORSHIP HOURS

Sunday Worship: 10:15 AM

Sunday School: 9:00 AM

Communion:

1st Sun. of month @10:15 AM & the

1st Sat. of each month at 5:30 PM

Office Hours:

Mon. – Fri., 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Rev. Burlington B. Latshaw III, Interim Pastor

pastorlatshaw@comcast.net

Rev. Willard J. Uhler, Pastor Emeritus

Director of Youth

Lydia Beck

stjohnsyouthdirector@comcast.net

Church Secretary:

Donna Riegel

secretarydonna@comcast.net

Choir Dir. /Organist:

Betsy Zimmerman-Morgans

Assistant Organist, and

Junior & S.S. Choir Director: Kate Kauffman

Officers of the Congregation

President: Dean Schreffler

Vice Pres.: Dale Heckman

Secretary: Joyce Thren

Treasurer: Tara Simpson

Financial Secretary: Lynne Bagenstose

Residing in retirement homes are:

LAUREL LIVING CENTER Mary Nolan, Kathy Nolan, Bertha Dietrich, Ruth Wessner,

Clifford Henne

ORWIGSBURG MANOR Anna Groff Esther Rolland

TOPTON Grace Bowers

LUTHERCARE - Lititz Dorothy Fisher

STONE RIDGE

VILLAGE - Myerstown Charles and Ruth Reed

HEARTHSTONE Margaret Moyer

Irene Schappell

PHOEBE BERKS Ann Heinly

Clifford Wagner

Doris Wagner

COUNTRY MEADOWS Betty Krick Mary Ann Leisey

Donald & Betty Seidel- Allentown

REST HAVEN – Schuylkill Haven Annabelle McIntyre

LUTHER RIDGE – Pottsville Dorothy Geschwindt

MEMBERS HOSPITALIZED SINCE LAST

PRINTING

Lorrean Kramer

Michael Koch