Millheim, Pennsylvania

EPISTLE

S a i n t J o h n ’ s L u t h e ra n C h u r c h a n d C h i l d h o o d C e n t e r

Happenings:

16-Council Meeting, 7pm 28—Annual Congregational Meeting

11-Scout Sunday 14 –Valentine’s Day - Ash Wednesday 20-Council Meeting, 7pm Have something to share in the next EPISTLE? Submit any information via email to office4stjohns@verizon.net or call Krissy in the office at 349-5349. The dead-line for submissions will be 9am on Thursday, February 23rd.

January/February 2018

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace, Peace, and Mercy, be to you in

the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus

Christ, Amen.

Happy New Year! For many, New

Year’s is a big deal. It has been a time of

gathering with family and friends to

celebrate the birth of the Christ child

and to ring in the new year. Many have

their favorite foods to make and share

during this time; some have rituals and

traditions that are anticipated for the

entire year; and for some it is a time of

reflection, discernment, and for making

resolutions and plans for the new year.

As my kids were growing up, New

Year’s Eve was the evening (while on

our family retreat at the ocean) that we

would take the train ride along the bay

to see the beautiful light display, fol-

lowed by a nice dinner out, and then

back to our condo to play board games,

share memories and blessings of the

year, and watch the “ball drop” in Time

Square ringing in the new year. As we

rang in the new year, there were shouts

of joy and lots of hugging, followed by

phone calls and texts of New Year’s

greeting to extended family and friends.

There are times in our lives that need

to be heralded with joy. Jesus is so gra-

cious to us. New Year’s brings us a new

beginning filled with new adventures

and great possibilities. It is a time to

celebrate, and give thanks for all the

obstacles we have overcome last year.

We reflect on the joy and healing that

our Lord brought into our hearts and

our lives in 2017. We acknowledge and

reflect on God’s faithfulness and the

bounty of His provisions for us and our

families. We cherish those people God

put in our lives this past year and the

ways He has blessed our relationships.

We celebrate those mountain top experi-

ences, and offer thanksgiving for the

challenges that our Lord carried us

through. We celebrate the goodness of

being alive.

We look ahead to 2018 with awe and

wonder of the that is in front of us in

this new year. It is an untarnished

year, like that of a field covered with

freshly fallen snow: pure and glistening,

free of footprints or tracks, full of paths

yet untrodden. We have the promise

that God will be with us each step of the

way in every second of every day in the

new year. We have so many reasons to

bring in the new year with shouts of

praise and thanksgiving. I invite you to

join me in ending each day with prayer

of thanksgiving for all the ways God has

blessed you each day, and for all the

ways God has empowered you to be a

blessing for others that day.

In a few weeks we will begin our jour-

ney with Jesus to the cross in that sea-

son that we call Lent. It is through that

journey to the cross that we are given

the gifts of forgiveness and salvation. It

is that journey to the cross that also en-

ables us to start a new, not just for new

years, but each and every time we fall

down, fall short, screw up, or just get it

wrong.

May your journey through 2018 be

filled new opportunities to live in and

live out the life giving love of Jesus

Christ with each person God puts in

your life and may your best day in 2017

be your worst day in 2018.

May God Bless You, as You ARE a

Blessing to Others!

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in

praise and sing for Joy! ~Psalm 98:4

Rev. Frank E. Harpster III ,

Your Vacancy Pastor

PAGE 2 E P I S T L E January/February 2018

Childhood Center Update

The Childhood Center had a successful Cookie Walk & Café fundraiser in De-

cember. A total of almost $700 was raised! Thank you to all who attended the

fundraiser and donated the cookies. Without your help, it would not have

been such a huge success! The Staff also would like to Thank everyone who

attended their Christmas Pageant on December 3 as well. The children

worked hard and put on a fabulous performance that was enjoyed by all who

attended. A special Thank You to Sherry Koehler for her dedication to help

with the pageant each year.

2017 YEAR in REVIEW...

2017 was a great year for the Childhood Center! We maintained our STAR 3 status and continue to

be a full enrollment capacity. The Staff work hard to make this THE BEST

Childhood Center in Penns Valley.

The children had many adventures this year. In the Growing Room, we

watched as all the boys learned to first crawl, then walk, and celebrate

their first birthdays! Now you can find them toddling in the hallways dur-

ing the day to get some exercise. Communication in the Growing Room has

consisted of baby signs… stop by and catch a conversation in action and you

will be amazed how much these boys have learned!

The Blue Skies and Sunshine Rooms have taken their adventures outside

our walls and visited many interesting places in

2017. During the summer months when the weather cooperated they

were able to go to the local pool to cool off, visit R.B. Winter State Park

to have a day of fun in the outdoors with a picnic lunch and took a ride

on a Riverboat! Our small friends even visited Centre Crest to show off

their Halloween costumes to the residents.

Many visitors stopped in to pay a visit as well.. The librarian from Cen-

tre Hall Library and retired school teacher Mrs. Reish are always favor-

ites, although firefighter Mike came with a BIG RED FIRE TRUCK! It

was also a special day when our life guard from the summer, Mr. Kaleb,

brought in his big shiny tuba to play us a tune.

The School Age/Summer Camp kids were also quite busy with swimming in the summer, building

marshmallow catapults with the PV 4-H Rambling Robotics Team, taking trips to the Little

League Hall of Fame, Fort McHenry and The National Aquarium. On a

school in-service day, the School Age kids visited Salem Hill Haven to play

Bingo and other games with the residents. To end the year, the kids

helped bake cookies to donate to the Penns Valley Community Church for

their Annual Community Thanksgiving meal and to the Cookie Walk

Fundraiser for St John’s. The final tally on the amount of cookies baked

was around 22 dozen. Of course, some of those cookies were used for their

afternoon snack!

As you can see… the year has been a great one and we are looking forward to an even BETTER

2018!

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 11-Shelley Ilgen, Donna Stover 21-Arlan Kauffman 25-Tony Foltz 27-Bill Gettig 31-Denise Hosterman

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

3-David Rachau

5-Jack Smith

9-Sharon Heckman

15-Lee Wingard

22-Jean Wingard

27-Emily Warriner

27-Dorothy Fleming

28-Patty Yearick Happy Anniversary! Jim & Teresa Houser - February 7

Financial Stewardship Date - Attendance Offering

Nov 5 32 $1,363.00

Nov 12 41 $1,643.00

Nov 19 47 $1,415.00

Nov 26 39 $1,337.55

Dec 3 65 $2,175.00

Dec 10 55 $1,786.00

Dec 17 50 $1,357.00

Dec 24 (am) 50 (combined w/pm)

Dec 24 (pm) 97 $4,157.00

Dec 31 29 $1,404.00

PAGE 3 EPISTLE January/February 2018

Scout Sunday On Sunday, February 11th members of Boy Scout Troop 88 and

Cub Scout Pack 88 will gather with us for worship. Please welcome the youth and their

families as we give thanks for serving as the Charter Organization for this life-changing

program that impacts the boys, young men, and their families in our community.

WELCA

DURING 2018 THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WILL BE HELD.

Pre-Easter Breakfast - details to come...

Our Annual Community Pre-Easter Breakfast for the ladies of Penns Valley will

be held the Saturday before Easter, which will be March 31, 2018. More details

will be made available soon.

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated!

June 2018 is “Good Neighbor Month” and we will be asking the congregation to help us collect non-

perishable food items, paper products, etc. to fill the grocery cart for our local Food Bank.

Annual Congregational

Meeting

The Annual Congregational meeting

will be held January 28, 2018

immediately following service.

Please remember to

bring your copy of the

Annual Report to the

meeting.

PRAYERS For Those in Grief

In Our Prayers: *Rich Blaschak

*Alma Jean Port *Tiarra Rachau

*Deb Sinkus *TJ Coursen

*Ed Kerstetter *Barry Yearick

*Rich Krout *Leslie Mersinger

*Monica Brindle * Sharon Murray

*Janie Shook *Lois Bryan

*Larry Shook *Jim Tolomay *Russell Rose

*Gwynne Martin In Our Prayers: *Nancy Wagner *Carol Schempf

Sara Fotis Len Greenland

PAGE 4 E P I S T L E January/February 2018

Margaret Keefer Charlotte Householder

Jeannie Long Dave Hampton

Ken Miller Shirley Bechtol

PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD, THE MEMBERS,

MISSION, AND MINISTRY OF SAINT JOHN’S, THE ALLEGHENY

SYNOD AND THE ELCA, ALL PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY AND

OUR LEADERS.

Shut Ins Please remember those who are homebound or

living apart from us, with your cards, phone calls, prayers and visits.

Shirley Gross Shirley Bechtol Violet Stover 3201 River Rd. 152 W. Main St. Valley View Haven Wing E Room#407A PO Box 12 4702 E. Main St. 412B Lewisburg, PA 17837 Millheim, PA 16854 Belleville, PA 17004 Bday: July 17th Bday: March 23rd (717) 935-2105 (814) 349-5670

Hazel Betack John Hosterman 106 Coburn Rd. Elmcroft #310 Millheim, PA 16854 150 Farmstead Lane Bday: May 4th State College, PA 16803 (814)349-5360 Bday: August 8th (814) 238-7494

Doug Bower 421 E. Mountain Rd. Port Matilda, PA 16870 Bday: December 24th

(814) 692-8180

Rose Brindle

PO Box 291

Centre Hall, PA 16828

Bday: March 5th

364-1871

Vacancy Pastor Frank Harpster will be away

January 28 to February 1, 2018 for Continuing Education and

February 15—21, 2018 for Vacation.

Should you need pastoral care during those dates, please call

Pastor Kevin Shock at 814-404-0721.

PAGE 5 EPISTLE January/February 2018

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Minutes of Church Council Meeting October 17, 2017 Present: Jack Smith, Adam Warriner, Larry Koehler, Deb Immel, Donna Wingard, Krissy Musser-Norton, Buck Fleming, Guest: Kaleb Norton Absent: Mimi Owen, Robin Foltz, Pr Frank Harpster Guest Kaleb Norton is the Eagle Scout who replaced the foot bridge over the Mill Race for the Church & Childhood Center last year. He came to us today to propose improvements to the bridge and possibly some landscaping surrounding the bank along the race. This would be for require-ments to complete his vision for the bridge and to count as his Senior project towards his High School Graduation next June. Larry K made a suggestion that the Church help with the cost of this project by purchasing any materials that he may need. Jack S made a motion to approve the project and to purchase the materials, Donna W. seconded the motion. Minutes of September 19, 2017: Larry K suggested made a motion to approve as corrected. Adam W seconded the motion. Childhood Center: Enrollment still at full capacity. Robin has star ted purchasing new furni-ture with money from savings to replace old, outdated shelves and storage in the classrooms. Treasurer Report: Motion to approve as repor ted by Larry K., seconded by Adam W. Old Business: Review of the Lutheran Trust proposal was discussed. Larry K. made a mo-tion to accept the proposal as presented and to add the $400 optional umbrella coverage, which was also suggested by Al Ilgen. Deb I. seconded, motion approved. New Business: Al Ilgen dropped off a proposal to complete the parking lot line painting. Larry K. has reviewed the proposal and will make sure the painting is complete with some small changes to the proposed plan. Call Committee: Buck F. has been having regular conversations with Bishop Michael Rhyne. Report of WELCA: Donna W. asked if we wanted to host the Annual Advent meal here at St John’s or at Salem. Motion to adjourn was made by Larry K, seconded by Buck F. Meeting closed with the Lord's Prayer Next council meeting November 21, 2017 Respectfully submitted by Krissy Musser Norton for Mimi Owen

PAGE 6 EPISTLE January/February 2018

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Present: Jack Smith, Vice President: Adam Warriner, Treasurer: Larry Koehler, Deb Immel, Don-na Wingard, Krissy Musser-Norton, Buck Fleming, Pastor Frank Harpster Absent: Mimi Owen, Robin Foltz,

Minutes of Ocotber 17, 2017: Larry K made a motion to approve the minutes as wr itten, se-conded by Donna W, minutes approved.

Childhood Center: Full enrollment continues; working on renewing STAR 3 designation; Annual inspection will happen within the next month.

Treasurer Report: While prepar ing for the 2018 Budget process, Larry K noticed several discrepancies on the reporting. Krissy was unable to fix the problem herself and contacted an ex-pert through Quickbooks and set up a time for him to meet with her and review the problem and correct the situation.

Donna W made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report, Adam W. seconded the motion; Treasurer’s report was approved.

Old Business: Jack S. repor ted that he worked with Joseph Hazel to repair the steam valve issue with the boiler. JJ Powell is scheduled to complete the annual cleaning and maintenance to our boiler on December 5.

$25 additional compensation was agreed upon to pay Kathy Graham for the Bell Choir practices.

New Business: New council members are needed. Al Ilgen has shown an interest to return onto the council after taking one year off. Mimi Owen has expressed her desire to leave the coun-cil. Donna W’s term is also set to expire in 2018.

2018 Budget: Larry K, Al Ilgen, Jack S and Roger Guisewite formed the committee to create the budget for next year. Larry K. presented the proposed budget to the council. A suggestion of con-tinuing to pay 6 months of Seminary Support for Dan Warntz at the same rate of $165 per month and a onetime $500 Support to Curt Wingert in 2018. Donna W. made a motion to approve the budget with the suggested changes, Deb I. seconded. The 2018 proposed budget was approved with those changes to present to the Congregation.

Adam W. made a motion to hold a congregational meeting after services on December 17, Larry K. seconded.

Local artist Karl Leitzel reached out to Krissy to propose replacing the two church signs at both end of town.

Call Committee: Buck F. had a call from Pastor Paula from the Synod. He will follow up on that call.

Report of WELCA: The next event for WELCA will be the Pre-Easter Breakfast next year. Salem will possibly host if their chair lift is installed by then.

Caring for Ourselves: The question was raised if anyone was currently sending cards to the shut ins and those who have not been to church in a while. Jack S. will check with Connie Boob to see if she is still interested in continuing this mission.

PAGE 7 EPISTLE January/February 2018

Dear Friends, May God be with you as we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I hope you are blessed to be with family and friends. I pray that you know the great love of our Lord and Savior Jesus. You matter to God. You are loved by Jesus more than you can ever know. As we gather, we celebrate this great love of God that has come to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It amazes me that with his birth, Jesus came to a place the world would never expect. Ho-ly Scripture said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But what was Bethlehem? It was a tiny village in the literal backwater of the great Roman Empire—the last place anyone would think to look for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Kings are usually born in palac-es, not in a cattle shed in a town the rest of the world didn’t know. Jesus comes to us exactly where the world wouldn’t expect him to show us that God works in ways beyond our expectation. God is in the business of surpassing our expectation and what we think is possible. That same God in Jesus Christ is with us in the Allegheny Synod. That same Jesus is with us as we go forth in our lives. God has done the unexpected and amazing thing of not just coming into this world but claiming ordinary people like you and me and calling us to be a part of the eternal life of God. This amazing and unexpected God is calling you and me to be instruments of his grace love and mercy. God is working in and through you and me. I see over and over the ways that the power of the Holy Spirit is at work through you. God is using you to care for the hungry, clothe the needy, send warmth and comfort to the hurting, and reach out to care for those stricken by natural disaster. Jesus is here in the Allegheny Synod. As we move through this Christmas season, I invite you to take stock of this year and see how God has blessed you to be a blessing for others. As we look to 2018, I invite you to join me in listening for where the Holy Spirit might be urging us to move forward in love and service. Jesus is alive and at work here in the heart of central Pennsylvania. He will amaze us with what he can and will do with us. Merry Christmas +Bishop Michael Rhyne Allegheny Synod, ELCA

Message from Bishop Michael Rhyne...

SAINT JOHN’S

LUTHERAN CHURCH (814) 349-5349 office4stjohns@verizon.net 101 Mill Street PO Box 439 Millheim, PA 16854-0439 www.stjohnsmillheimpa.org

St. John’s Childhood Center (814) 349- 5611 director4stjohns@verizon.net

OUR MISSION Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Millheim,

empowered by the Holy Spirit, is a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This body of baptized believers in fellowship with Jesus Christ invites all to worship, learn, and serve

people everywhere, beginning with our community. CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL: Jack Smith, President Adam Warriner, Vice President Larry Koehler, Treasurer Donna Wingard Buck Fleming Deb Immel

** Welcome new council member for 2018: Al Ilgen ***

We are still looking for sponsors for the

weekly bulletins ($10/week) and the

bimonthly Epistles ($25/edition) to help

defray the cost of printing and postage.

Please consider making a donation.