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A Psalm for the season of Easter Joy

One day as I was praying a morning prayer with members of the Luther Seminary community, the Psalm of the day had a particular impact on my journeying soul. Psalm 111 speaks

of the mighty acts of God. We who are Easter people recognize this God when we gaze into the open tomb of the resurrected Christ, and when we go forth into the world with alleluias on our lips. Behold this marvelous psalm and let it

sing you into Easter joy!

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.

He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.

He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name. 1The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

Alleluia! Christ is raised- Christ is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Pastor Bill Diehm

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“ON EAGLES WINGS”

Points of Interest Inside

Thank You’s

Easter Schedule

St. John’s

Stampers

Sunrise

Breakfast

Pew Bibles

Easter Flower

order form

CPR classes

forming now!

Mother’s Day

Camp Blast at

Lutherlyn

An Evening Out

C.P.R. Class

now forming!

Golf League

2012

Magic Show

GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY SCOTT BRYTE

ST. JOHN’S STAFF MEMBERS: William B. Diehm, Senior Pastor Kari B. Smail, Associate Pastor Donald D. Anderson, D. D., Associate in Pastoral Care Ron Baling, Dir. of Contemporary Music Ryan Murphy, Organist /Choir Director Mike Conti, Saturday Accompanist Debbie Sandherr, Office Manager Barb Eback, Office Assistant & Accounts Receivable Clerk Amy Beacha, Office Assistant Pat Hartman, Director of St. John’s Preschool Gene Kesner, Sexton Dawn Andersson, Director of Volunteer Ministry Linda Meyerdierks, Youth Ministry Coordinator Christina Huffmyer, Accounts Payable Clerk Laura Coombs, Chief Financial Officer Nick Ross, Media & Technology Volunteer

STAFF COVENANT: We will partner to enhance each other’s ministries, honor each person’s gifts, care for one another and

communicate God’s word and love.

RECYCLE TO HELP THE

BUILDING FUND The senior high youth group is continuing to collect cell phones,

along with Inkjet and laser cartridges. So far we have earned

over $800. This project will continue as long as members of the

church bring in items. Any recyclable items can be brought to

the youth room or church office. Thank you for all of your support.

RECYCLE WITH ABITIBI: We have raised approximately $1,298 towards the building fund

and saved over 129 cubic yards in our local landfills! In June alone we recycled over 6,000 lbs. Keep up the good work!! You never know

what new life your recycled paper will experience. Used newspapers can be turned into recycled newsprint, paperboard and other recycled products. Just bring your newspapers

to the green and yellow Abitibi Retriever®

WE ACCEPT ALL: Newspaper, Magazines, Catalogs, Mail, Envelopes, Folders, Fax & Copy Paper and Colored Paper.

NO ITEMS FROM THE BATHROOM or KITCHEN i.e.,

cereal boxes, cardboard, milk cartons, soda cartons or food cartons.

NO CARDBOARD, PHONE BOOKS AND NO TRASH PLEASE!!

TRASH CAN CONTAMINATE THE WHOLE BIN! PLEASE

REMOVE ANY PLASTIC BAGS THAT YOU MAY BRING THE

PAPER IN; ANY TYPE OF PLASTIC BAG

WILL RUIN THE LOAD!! Thank you!

OUR ABITIBI PAPER RECYCLING DUMPSTER IS NOW

LOCATED IN THE BACK PARKING LOT OF THE CHURCH!

Thanks to all who donate!!

St. John’s Stampers The St. John’s Stampers will be meeting on

Saturday, April 14th

. This time we will be having an

“All Occasions” Day. Things will be a bit different than usual. There will be several cards for

different occasions or events. Stampers can make the cards they think they can use and an envelope will be

provided for each card. Cost will be $1.00/card to cover the cost of the materials. Join us and stock up!

Questions? Contact Betsy at 724-935-1321 or

pdfeaf@zoominternet.net

WE ARE ALWAYS UPDATING EMAIL

ADDRESSES!

Do We have yours???

If not, please send it to

sjlutheran@ verizon.net

SPRING GARAGE SALE

Spring is in the air (ignore the occasional

snow!) & plans are being made for

another garage sale, Saturday, June 2nd.

When you feel tempted to clean out your

own garage, attic, closets, etc. Please

keep the church in mind. Save any items

you no longer need, but are in good

working condition. Tax receipts will be

available for your donations. Watch for

more information about the sale in the

future Sunday bulletins & the Newsletter.

Financially Speaking

APRIL 2012

Income:

February Actual $ 37,165.01

February Budget $ 45,194.50

Short Fall ($ 8,029.49)

YTD Actual $ 76,455.24

YTD Budget $ 90,389.00

Short Fall ($ 13,933.76)

We would like to thank

the congregation for their

support in keeping their

pledges current.

RECYCLE=READING

The Christian Literacy

Associates office at St.

John’s is collecting used

cell phones, Laser Jet

Cartridges and Inkjet

Cartridges. These will be

recycled and a donation

will be obtained for

our Christian

Literacy Ministry.

Call

412-364-3777

if you

have any

questions.

North Hills Community Outreach APRIL 2012

N.H.C.O. is now on Facebook. Become a fan today!

NHCO Requests Spring Share Donations - North Hills Community Outreach is collecting baskets, candy, granola bars, juice boxes, grocery and department store gift cards and snack-size treats for Spring Share, an NHCO sharing pro-ject that will help approximately 500 local families in hardship. Donations will be accepted through March 30 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at NHCO, 1975 Ferguson Road, in Allison Park. For more information, contact Vicki Burstynowicz at 412-487-6316, opt. 1. North Hills Community Outreach Holds Sixth Annual Pasta Dinner - North Hills Community Outreach’s will hold their annual Millvale Pasta Dinner on April 13 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Millvale Community Center at 416 Lincoln Ave. Dine in or take out. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door and include pasta with choice of sauce, bread, salad, beverage and dessert. For tickets, call 412-487-6316, option 2, or visit www.nhco.org for an order form. Free Home Repairs Available to Qualified Individuals - North Hills Commu-nity Outreach is partnering with Christ Lutheran Church to provide minor home repairs this summer to qualified seniors and low income adults with physical disabilities. The repair projects will be completed by youth and adult volunteers June 24 to 29. Seniors or adults with physical disabilities who wish to receive home repairs should own and reside in a home in northern Allegheny County, require assistance with small projects such as painting, insulating, minor roof-ing and concrete pairs and be able to provide materials to be used in your home if possible. To apply, call Cathy at 412-307-0069. Walk for NHCO! -North Hills Community Outreach is a charity affiliate in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. Form a team or be a virtual walker and support NHCO. To learn more, contact Lee Anne Pontis at 412-487-6316, opt. 1 or visit www.nhco.org. Generosity Footprints - Help North Hills Community Outreach win $10,000 in the first-ever Generosity Footprints, a Facebook-based contest. NHCO is one of only three nonprofit organizations and the only Pittsburgh-area organization selected to participate in the unique, social media event. To help NHCO win, log on to Facebook through April 30 and visit the North Hills Community Out-reach page or search for the Generosity Footprints application. Log any charita-ble activities for friends, family, charities and even strangers. Individual partici-pants also have a chance to win prizes. Volunteer Opportunities at NHCO North Hills Community Outreach is seeking volunteer drivers and dispatchers

for their Free Rides for Seniors shuttle that provides free transportation to anyone over age 60 along Freeport Road on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Kerry Mulhern at 412-449-0151 for more information.

North Hills Community Outreach is seeking financial coaches to work one-on-one with individuals to develop and improve financial management and be-haviors. For more information, call Harriet Gibbs at 412-487-6316, opt. 2. Contact: Amanda Hartle, Director of Communications, 412-487-6316 or asfhartle@NHCO.org

N.H.C.O., 1975 Ferguson Road, Allison Park, PA 15101 www.NHCO.org Please consider sharing your experience as a supporter, volunteer

or service recipient by posting a review about N.H.C.O. on the Great Nonprofits website.

Candle & Flower Openings for APRIL Please call the church office if you would like to have one of these

weeks. Remember: there are 2 openings for the flowers each week

@$15 per vase & 3 openings for the candle each week @$2.50 each.

Candle Flower

April 1—3 openings April 1—0 openings

April 8—2 openings April 8—0 openings

April 15—1 opening April 15—1 opening

April 22—3 openings April 22—1 opening

April 29—3 openings April 29—2 openings

For your convenience, we have placed our "Opening New Doors" special offering envelope

in the church pews. They replace the Step Forward in Faith envelopes for the purpose of

contributing to our 2009 Capital Campaign. You will see that these envelopes are marked specifically for mortgage contributions. Our

mortgage on the new addition is $11,000 per month. If you have not made a pledge,

and would like to contribute, every gift matters! Thank you for your ongoing stewardship & generosity.

OPENING NEW DOORS

MAKING CHRIST KNOWN

PEW

BIBLES The Bibles in

our pews are

outdated

(1979) and

showing signs

of wear, so

the Worship

and Music

Committee

would like to

replace them. We can purchase New

Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

pew Bibles for $9 a copy, hardcover

with clear, easy-on-the-eye type.

Our goal is 100 copies. There is also

a new Lutheran Study Bible available

at a cost of $35 per copy. Our goal is

to purchase twenty-five of these for

use in Bible studies for all age groups.

If you are looking for a new family

Bible, this would be a good choice

and could be purchased through our

campaign also. A copy of the Study

Bible will be available in the church

office for you to look at. Please con-

sider contributing to St. John’s Bible

Fund – any amount would

be very much appreciated!

Preschool

Panorama

Spring has arrived and we will learn about the wonders of spring.

Flowers and spring animals will be made and discussed.

The 2 ½ year old classes are doing better each week without their

Moms. They continue to have fun each week interacting with each oth-

er and making and learning about storybook favorites.

The 3’s will be learning about various shapes and continuing

with the alphabet and numbers 1 – 10. They have had visits from a vet-

erinarian, AAA, and Mrs. Dawn Andersson about penguins.

The 4’s are working on restaurant week, are going to the

post office, working on their “Me” books, and are

practicing for a spring program.

The pre-kindergarten classes are continuing their readiness

for kindergarten, and are getting ready for spring activities.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the

Betsy Ann Candy Sale. We appreciate your help.

Enjoy spring and the Easter season, and Thank God

that we have a beautiful season to enjoy.

NORTHSIDE COMMON

MINISTRIES IS IN NEED of a few good used couches.

With men sleeping on some of

them at night and each being

used for sitting throughout the

day--they get worn out pretty

fast. If anyone in your

congregation has an old sofa in

need of a new home and they can

drop it off….please have them

give us a call. Happy 2012!!

Jay Poliziani, Director

Northside Common Ministries,

1601 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh,

PA 15212. 412 302 3528

and fax 412 3231749.

jay.poliziani@ncmin.org or

www.ncmin.org

THE SOCIAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE ... ...is planning a CPR and AED class on

Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m.—Noon. We would like to have as many people as possible certified to

use the AED and perform CPR, neither are difficult to learn! There have been many changes in CPR throughout the years.

It is now much easier!! It would be great to have ushers trained to perform CPR. To register for the class, please

return the form to the church office. QUESTIONS? contact Shirley McIlvried at 412 364 7329. The cost of the class is discounted to $15, due the day of class.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CPR AND AED CLASS—APRIL 21 Name & Phone number

OPENING NEW DOORS

Utilization of Funds – Priority

1. Monthly Mortgage

Payment-$10,600.00

2. Monthly Utilities – Maintenance

& Insurance, $3,400.00

3. Replenish Debt Service Fund

Reserve to $65,000

4. Accelerate Payment of Mortgage

OPENING NEW DOORS

MAKING CHRIST KNOWN

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

SERVICE HERE

AT ST. JOHN’S

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS for all of the worship assisting

positions.

We need ushers, greeters,

lectors, deacons,

assistant ministers &

kid’s corner staff!! Please call 412-364-1606 if you

are interested. Thank you for

considering this call to ministry!

“QUOTE” of the Month

“Peace starts with a smile.”

~Unknown

Senior High (9th-12th grade) Youth News AS A REMINDER,

WE HAVE MANY GROUPS USING THE CHURCH,

PLEASE, KEEP IN MIND THE

SECURITY OF THE BUILDING.

ALWAYS LOCK THE DOORS, WHETHER OR

NOT YOU THINK SOMEONE IS IN THE BUILDING!

THANK YOU!

Event: Fun Slides Carpet Skatepark

Where: 1553 Arona Road, Irwin, PA, 15642

We will leave from church together,

carpooling as a group.

We will need parent volunteers to help drive.

YOU MUST R.S.V.P. BY THURSDAY, APRIL 19TH!

When: Sunday, April 22nd Time: 2:45pm. – 7:15pm. (Meet at church @ 2:45 p.m., return approx. 7:15 p.m.)

Admission $10 per session, Fun Slides rental $2, and you

can also rent a helmet if desired for $1

Rules of Fun Slides:

Everyone must have a waiver signed.

NO EXCEPTIONS! I will have waivers available at the

church this Sunday or you can print a waiver from the

Fun Slides website:

http://funslidespark.com/public_skate.html

Everyone must wear athletic shoes, and absolutely no

open toed shoes. R.S.V.P. by Thursday, April 19th

to Dan and Elisa Heckert at holykows@gmail.com or

Linda Meyerdierks at lmmeyers@zoominternet.net

Holy K.O.W.S. (6th-8th grade) Youth News

Watch bulletin and Sunday School flyers for

the Next God Squad Event!

God Squad (1st-5th grade) Youth News

AND

APRIL 2012 Assisting Schedule APRIL 2012 Assisting Schedule

“FRIDGE FACTS” (This page made especially for placing on your refrigerator.)

KIDS

CORNER

10:30 a.m.

April 1 Dawn Andersson, Youth

April 8 Nolan Boyle, Jean Martz,

Youth

April 15 Nick & Laura Lankes,

Youth

April 22 Gina Milcoff, Youth

April 29 Dawn Andersson, Youth

ACOLYTES 8 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

April 1 Mike Trauman Max Skirpan 3/31 Sara Funderlich

April 8

6:30 a.m.

Melody Hull

8:30 a.m. Zach Gibson

Joseph Caulkins 4/7 Mikey Emory

April 15 Tucker Fowkes Delaney Martin 4/14 Hunter McDermot

April 22 Aaron Highton Griffin Martin 4/21 Sara Funderlich

April 29 Mike Trauman Nicolas Lankes 4/28 Mikey Emory

LECTORS 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

April 1 Brian Miller Mary Pat Jackson

April 8 6:30 a.m. Doug Hull

8:30 a.m. John Fullerton

Jeff Maltz

April 15 Sam Baling Delaney Martin

April 22 Cindy Kelly Griffin Martin

April 29 Ruth Mansfield Russell Ruffolo

GREETERS 8 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

April 1 Sam Falck, Ellen Fowkes Jack & Donna Hubert

April 8 6:30 a.m. Doris Hodgkiss,

Mary Ethel Hague

8:30 a.m. Lee & Beth Fischer

Karen & Dennis Courson

April 15 Brian & Heidi Miller Tim & Heather Semke

April 22 Jane & Bob Robertson C. Sperandeo, Nancy Swanhart

April 29 Gail & Frank Bankowski Millie Haas, Cathy Coudriet

Alternates: Bill & Nancy Danklefsen John & Andrea Miller

ASST. MIN. 8 a.m.

April 1 Drew Leister

April 8 6:30 a.m. Barb Eback

8:30 a.m. Betsy Fackler

April 15 Sam Baling

April 22 Sue Diehm

April 29 Drew Leister

USHERS 8 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

April 1 Rosina & Dan Maljak,

Gail Polosky, Eric Kofmehl,

Joseph Ulomi

Mary Lynne Martin,

Roger McQuaid 3/31 Bill Crawford

April 8 6:30 a.m. Bill Danklefsen,

Heather McElroy

8:30 a.m. Bill & Betty Jones,

Mario DeIuliis

Ted Oczypok,

Jennifer Singleton 4/7 Mary Jean Voigt

April 15 Brian & Bob Miller,

J. Cronenweth, Gene Modic Cathy Coudriet,

Roger McQuaid 4/14 Curt Soergel

April 22 Tom Beilstein, Curt Soergel,

Bill Crawford, Harold Brandt Ron & Laura Coombs 4/21 Ted Oczypok

April 29 Kent & Jim Bruggeman,

Sam Falck, Jeremy Fowkes Stephen & William

Tjader 4/28 Jennifer

Singleton

DEACONS 8 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.

April 1 Stefen Boehringer,

Howard McIlvried

John Miller,

Mary Pat Jackson

3/31 Curt Soergel

April 8 6:30 a.m.

Bob & Margie Miller

8:30 a.m.

Beth & Lee Fischer

Jeff Maltz,

Cheri Heeter

4/7 Pat Hartman

April 15 Eric Kofmehl,

Linda Falck

Doug Hull,

Chris Lindberg

4/14 Jeff Maltz

April 22 Dan Maljak,

Tom Beilstein

Pat Hartman,

Cathy Coudriet

4/21 Chris Lindberg

April 29 Curt Soergel, Bob Miller Jeff Maltz, Cheri Heeter 4/28 Margie Miller

Kids Corner is

offered at the

second service on

Sunday mornings

for children up to

First Grade in the

daycare room.

“FRIDGE FACTS” (This page made especially for placing on your refrigerator.)

STEPHEN MINISTRY

AT ST. JOHN’S

Our congregation has a

dedicated group of people who

provide one-on-one emotional

and spiritual care to anyone

experiencing difficulties. If you

would like someone in your life who will

LISTEN, CARE, PRAY and SUPPORT,

please ask one of the pastors about this or call

Jan Treser for an opportunity to receive help.

Also, a Stephen Minister will be available

on Sunday morning between services from

9:15 – 10:15 in the back of the church by

the balcony steps. Please stop by if you have

a prayer request or if you’d just like to share

concerns with a trustworthy, compassionate

listener. Your current Stephen Ministers are:

Dawn Andersson, Carol Celin,

Nancy Danklefsen, Betsy Fackler,

Lee Fischer, Pat Hartman, Shirley McIlvried,

Jan McQuaid, Dave Richards,

Joyce Speckhals and Jan Treser.

Do you have a child that is

somewhere

between grades 2nd

-7th

?

If so, they are welcome to join

us on Wednesdays from 3:45-

5:45 for an afterschool program

called Cumberland Kids.

The program consists of

recreation and activities in our new gym and

fellowship hall, help with homework,

plus a meal. The suggested donation per student is $1

per week. If you are interested in registering your

child for this fun program, please contact St. John’s of

Highland at 412-364-1606 to receive a registration form

and more information. The program runs throughout

the school year and all are welcome!

Food Item

Of the Month The N.H.C.O. Fishes

Food Pantry & North

Boroughs Food Pantry

need our food donations.

April’s item of

the month

is peanut butter & jelly!

Toilet Paper, Toothpaste,

Shampoo & Bar Soap are

always needed &

appreciated. Containers

are in the coat room in

the Narthex.

You Are Invited To CampBlast at

Lutherlyn Sunday, May 6, 2012, 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.lutherlyn.com for more details.

Join us for a day of FUN that highlights all that Lutherlyn has to offer.

Horseback riding, campfire, crafts, gaga, archery, high ropes course,

zip-line, bouldering room, hikes, nature activities, canoeing, hay rides,

games, sports, archaeology, water rockets, disc golf, kayaking,

biking, tours, displays and activities that highlight the “second

season” (non-summer) things going on at camp, great food, worship,

presentations, release party for the NEW camp songs, CD, and MORE!

The best part….EVERYTHING IS FREE & there will be special

summer camp discounts for NEW campers & for registered campers

who bring friends who are NEW to Lutherlyn!

Join us on Sunday, May 6th for a GREAT day at camp! 11:00 a.m. – Worship in the Amphitheater

Noon – 3:30 p.m. – FREE Brunch in the Dining Hall

Noon – 4:00 p.m. – TONS OF ACTIVITIES!

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Campfire

REMEMBER A MOM for

MOTHER’S DAY This Mother’s Day, consider remembering

or honoring the special mother or

mother figure in your life, by

contributing to Bethlehem Haven.

Bethlehem Haven is a shelter for homeless and abused

women. One night’s lodging costs $15. Any donation

will certainly be appreciated and recognized in the

Mother’s Day bulletin on May 13th. Please use the

tear-off below and return to the church office by

Sunday, May 6th. Please make checks to St. John’s.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Name Phone

In Honor or Memory of (please circle one)

OUR HELPING MINISTRIES St. John’s has many helping ministries – your help is needed!

Family Emergency Fund This fund is maintained for two purposes: to provide confidential financial help to families in

crisis, and to serve as an ongoing fund for funeral lunches. Helping Hands Fund This fund has a current balance of over

$4,000 and was established to assist in community emergencies or disasters. The intent is that Council or our Pastors would have ready access

to these monies for quick distribution, and then the congregation would be asked to replenish the fund. Heart of St. John’s This helping ministry provides

non-financial services for those in need, such as meals or rides to doctor’s appointments. It is run by the Social Ministry committee. There is always a

need for volunteers to provide these ongoing services for our members. Please contact Shirley McIlvried if you are interested. Deborah Ministry This

ministry provides a welcoming gift & a meal to families with new babies. Barb Harris & Dawn Andersson handle this joyful work. If you know of a family

with a recent new addition, please contact the church office. We don’t like to miss anyone!

EASTER FLOWERS

The Priscilla Guild will decorate the church with

flowers for Easter Sunday. These flowers are

donated to honor or memorialize loved ones.

The cost is $13.00. Please return the tear-off

to the church office with a separate check. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EASTER FLOWERS – due April 2, 2012

Name In honor of In memory of Amount Enclosed $

(This year, we would ask that you please do not bring the flowers home with you after worship services, so that the gardening group might plant

them around the church to beautify the property. Thank you!)

ATTENTION MARRIED COUPLES

Could your marriage use improved communication and a rekindling of the

romance? A few openings remain for the April 20-22 Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend at the Park Inn by Radisson-Sharon in West Middlesex, PA--an hour north of Pittsburgh.

At this lovely hotel, all couples have king beds and in-room hot tubs. Weekends run from Fri-

day night at 8 PM to Sunday afternoon around 5 PM and are designed to enrich ALL MARRIAGES. There is a $45 per couple registration fee; plus

toward the end of the weekend, you will be given an opportunity to make a confidential contribution of whatever amount you wish

toward continuation of the program. To sign up, simply go to the website: www.GodLovesMarriage.org and register online using

your credit card. Or for questions, or if you would like a brochure with a registration form mailed to you, contact Pennsylvania

Directors of Lutheran Marriage Encounter, Fred & Julie Schamber, at fjschamber@comcast.net or 724-325-3166.

Schedule for Easter April 5- Maundy Thursday, Services at Noon & 7:30 p.m.

April 6 – Good Friday, Children’s Program - 9:30 a.m.

Passion reading – Noon Tenebrae - 7:30 p.m.

April 7 – Easter Vigil, Candlelight Eucharist - 7:30 p.m. April 8 – Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord

Sunrise Eucharist-6:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast-7:30 a.m. Festive Eucharist-8:30 a.m.

Contemporary Eucharist-10:30 a.m.

**We Need Tutors Immediately at Anchorpoint

Counseling Center** More children (elementary thru high school)

in need of academic assistance have been referred to our program.

Please consider volunteering. Just a couple of hours a week can

positively impact an at risk youth. For more information, please

contact Sandy Niekum at 412-366-1300 ex.23.

**We Need More Books—Will You Organize a Book Drive?** We have an

immediate need for used books at Anchorpoint Counseling Center! Preparations are

underway for our annual used book sale which will be held June 11-15th at the Shoppes

at Northway. The book sale is a huge source of funds enabling us to offer affordable

tutoring and professional counseling services to those who have no health insurance or

are under insured. Please consider being a collection site. Attached is a flyer with the

details. For more information, contact Denise Patsko at 412-366-1300 ex. 13.

Get Your Walking Shoes Ready…Now is the time to register to participate with

Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community on

Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Stage AE, located in Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The High-

mark Walk is a fundraiser that benefits local nonprofit health and human service agen-

cies in the Pittsburgh area, including Anchorpoint. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

underwrites the cost of the walk so that 100 percent of the money raised by walkers

goes directly to the support of those we serve at Anchorpoint. These funds are used to

subsidize the cost of professional mental health counseling and tutoring services for

our clients that have limited financial resources and/or inadequate health insurance

coverage. In addition, your support enables community outreach and prevention pro-

grams. Please help us continue the healing! We know May 19th sounds like a long way

off but registering now will help us in our planning and you might also win a cool

prize for yourself. Among these awesome early registration prizes are a $25 Gift Card

for the Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant and a $50 Visa Gift Card from Highmark. In

addition, your early registration will help Anchorpoint to win prizes that we can use for

the ministry. Individual, Team, and Virtual Walkers are all eligible to win. For Anchorpoint and for you, to be entered to win these prizes, you must register within the month of

February with a $25 donation.***Register now at www.walkforahealthycommunity.org to join the

5K or One-Mile Fun Walk to support Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry

Greetings from St. John's Literacy Mission to the World

Dr. Bill & Linda Kofmehl, Chris & Jennie Ebner, 412-364-3777 and a host of volunteers! (In 37th year of service--beginning Nov.1, 1975.)

www.christianliteracy.com www.literacyempowers.com "Come up and see us sometime" in the second floor "apartment" headquarters.

Christian Literacy continues its efforts to help Christian Churches and organizations "open God's Word" to those adults and children who cannot read. That works out to half of the adult world that cannot read in any language, 40 million functionally illiterate adults in the United States (most native born and English speaking), and 225,000 adults in the Allegheny County, metropolitan Pittsburgh area plus millions of children nationwide who are failing grades due to a lack of basic reading skills, and are on their way to join the ranks of adult illiterates). Let's see what our staff has been doing in each of those areas recently. The Illiterate World: Pastor Michael Tetteh of Ghana has a dream -- he wants to have one hun-dred young students work five days a week, 7 hours a day in August to improve their knowledge of English, the official language of their country. He has thirty tutors who will work with them, but he has been searching for a curriculum. Pastor Michael believes that Christian Literacy has the materials that will meet the students' needs. We have been in close touch by email and Skype phone calls. He has received (by email) sample pages of CLA textbooks and will be able to train a few tutors to use the sample lessons by watching the short tutor training videos on our web site. Pastor Michael anticipates using his national church's contacts with church bodies in the US to fund his program as a model. A group from the South Hills traveled to Haiti and took CLA ma-terials (including our Creole Christian Literacy Primer) with them to begin a literacy program for leaders (English) and for those who cannot read (Creole, their native language). A group leader, Dr. Renee Davidson is coming in to discuss the needs of the group in Haiti. (We were pleased to hear that the Haitian pastor there was a part of the 5 year project in the early 1980's that trained 25,000 tutors for World Vision Inc. These tutors used Christian Literacy's CREOLE PRIMER with 50,000 stu-dents). The wife of an Ohio pastor is traveling to Malawi, Africa to visit a school. She will be taking CLA's CHICHEWA PRIMER and the English CHRISTIAN LITERACY SERIES. In Malawi, 10,000 students, mostly women, were taught to read using the CHICHEWA PRIMER through the Presbyterian Church of Central Africa's Synod of Blantyre. The United States: Two hundred "Christian Literacy spot announcements" will air on Corner-stone Television Network over the next three months. This is part of a special project to "increase awareness" of the problem of illiteracy and the role of Christian Literacy in solving that problem, one student at a time. The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area: The director of The LeMoyne Community Center (a 50 year outreach to a predominantly black housing project in Washington, PA) is interested in having tutors trained to help "at-risk" students in their afterschool programs and to work with one hundred "at-risk" youngsters during an 8 week summer program. Would you like to help us in the of-fice? Would you like to make phone calls to keep churches aware of CLA's programs and ser-vices? Any "social media experts" who can get our message out through Twitter, Facebook, etc.? CALL DR BILL (412-364-3777)!

DON'T FORGET TO SAVE CELL PHONES AND INK/TONER CARTRIDGES FOR RECYCLE FOR

READING PROJECT! TURN THEM IN TO THE CHURCH OFFICE, NOTING THAT THEY ARE FOR CHRISTIAN LITERACY. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR THIS MINISTRY AS WE

SEEK TO OPEN GOD’S HOLY WORD TO THOSE WHO CANNOT NOW READ IT.

Your help is needed to make more individuals, churches, and agencies aware of our existence and services. If you know of anyone, anywhere in the world (literally) who might find CLA of interest,

please provide them with our website (www.christianliteracy.com

Would you like to help us in the office? Would you like to make phone calls to keep churches aware of CLA's programs and services? Any "social media experts" who can get our message out through Twitter, Facebook, etc.? CALL 412-364-3777! We ask for your continued prayers

for this ministry as we seek to open God’s Holy word to those who cannot now read it.

EASTER SUNRISE BREAKFAST Join us for breakfast in Highland Hall

Easter Morning. The Fellowship Committee will be

serving egg casseroles, fresh fruit, pastries, cereal, juice

and hot beverages. Serving time will be from 7:30

a.m. until 8:30 a.m. The cost is $4.00 per person,

children 2 and under free. Please R.S.V.P. by Thurs., April 5, 2012.

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EASTER BREAKFAST - R.S.V.P. DUE Thurs., April 5, 2012

NAME

AMOUNT ENCLOSED

NEW KNITTING CLASSES STARTING We are starting a new series of Knitting

Classes on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. till Noon.

This will be an 8-week series, just enough time to make something for

Mother’s Day. Classes will start on Saturday, March 17th

and run through Saturday, May 5th

in the church library. Kids and adults are all welcome and feel free to

bring a friend. Come for any or all of the classes. Needles and yarn will be provided to start a pro-ject. Beginner instructions and practice, as well as help with problems for “already” knitters will

be provided. We’d love to have you join us.

Thanks to our congregation. Thank you for your prayers and support during my surgery and recovery period.

Gail Polosky

WE ARE BLESSED to have many new faces in our

St. John’s family. Since our last church directory is

nearly four years old, it seems like a good time to plan

for a new updated pictorial of the people and activities

that make St. John’s a special place. Lifetouch Studi-

os, who did our last directory, has joined forces with

Olan Mills Studio and we have engaged them to

prepare our new directory. We will be setting up appointments for

late Spring and early Summer for family sittings. This timetable will

accommodate those who wish to be photographed before they leave for

summer vacations as well as families who want to

wait till school is out to have their college students

included in their family portrait. Watch for more

details as the time for photographing gets closer. A

church directory is a great way to put names to the

smiles we have become accustomed to seeing each

Sunday. We want to be sure your smile is included.

Ready for fun, food, and fellowship? Come and join the St. John’s golf league. We meet every

Monday, beginning April 16th, at 4:45 pm at Pittsburgh North golf course. All are invited to come as often as you can. We have golf-

ers of varied skill levels, and our goal is to have a good time. For further information,

contact Walt Treser, 724-687-0545, ‘wtreser@zoominternet.net.

VOLUNTEERS REQUESTED

There is quite a volume of paper and cardboard

box scrap available from the Chateau Perry

Apartments in Perrysville. Currently, it is being

discarded almost daily.

Volunteers are needed to arrange to pick up this waste

material and haul it to the church for recycling to supplement our "RECYCLE WITH

ABITIBI" program and assist with our building fund. Volunteers can

call 412-548-3495 (Ned Stokes) to contact the apartment complex personnel for arrangements.

THANK YOU!!!

STEWARDSHIP STEW There is no doubt that our average life expectancy has increased over the years. This is due in large part to advances in preventive medicine as well as a safer food supply. On the other hand, modern conven-iences allow us to be more sedentary in our life style…power lawn mowers instead of push mowers, sufficient food sources that don’t require us to grow our own and television and video games that encourage us to be in “sit-down” mode for hours.

In the fascinating book “The Blue Zone” by Dan Buettner, researchers reveal population pockets around the world with an unusually high number of centenarians, people who have reached the age of 100; even super-centenarians who are 110 years and above. Most of these communities are in other countries, but one is in Loma Linda, California. It’s a large community of Seventh Day Adventists. Here’s a list of the important life style differences all of these people follow…

Lesson 1 – Make life a little tougher…get up to change the channels, take the stairs, do things by hand instead of using power equipment…walk, plant a garden, enroll in a yoga class.

Lesson 2 – Eat on smaller plates, eat more slowly, and make snacking a hassle (hide the goodies in hard-to-reach places and never eat standing up…oh, and eat early. Heavier meals eaten late in the day bog you down.

Lesson 3 – Eat four to six vegetable servings daily, limit intake of meat, lead with beans and make all kinds the centerpiece of lunches and dinners. Eat nuts every day.

Lesson 4 –Drink high quality red wine in moderation.

Lesson 5 – Have a sense of purpose. The Japanese call it “ikigai”…a reason for getting up each morning. Learn something new…a musical instrument, a language, a crafting skill. Have a good friend…someone you can share ideas and concerns with.

Lesson 6 – Reduce the noise level in your surroundings. Always be early for appointments or events. Spend time in meditation each day in a quiet place.

Lesson 7 – Be involved, explore a new tradition and just “go”. Find something worthwhile to participate in.

Lesson 8 - Establish rituals and put family first. Associate with people who enforce good habits…and be likable!

Give these ideas a try and you might just be around to enjoy a whole lot more political campaigns and elections!

Vince Charming presents,

“The Grand Illusion Show” with Gospel Magic.

Three shows on April 7th

1:00, 3:30, and 7:00 p.m.

$5 per person

Family Deal: $20 for 2 adults + any

kids (12 and under).

Proceeds benefit Pleasant Valley Men’s Shelter and Magic

Ministry. Held at North Park Church, 600 Ingomar Road,

Wexford, PA 15090. Featuring Houdini’s Greatest Illusion

for Adults and Kids. Questions? Call 412-334-9094 or

www.VinceCharmingMagic.com

An Evening Out Hosted by St. John’s

Lutheran Church of Highland

Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012

Menu: Appetizers, Dinner, Dessert, & Chinese Auction

Time: begins at 6:00 p.m.

Schedule:

6:00 p.m. ~ Hors d'oeuvres served

6:30 p.m. ~ Sit down dinner

7:45 p.m. ~ Chinese auction

Menu: Wedding soup, Salad, Italian bread, Chicken parmesan,

Pasta with marinara sauce, Green beans, and cheesecake for dessert.

Child Care: Available for 10 and under.

Prices: $20 per person

AND $5 for children under 10

Tickets will be available at the church

beginning March 11, 2012. Office-412-364-1606.

All proceeds benefit our youth going to New Orleans for

The National Youth Gathering in July, 2012.

SAVE THE DATE—Wednesday, May 9th

Somewhere In-betweeener’s Lunch & Theatre

In Columbiana, Ohio. Watch Bulletins for details!