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EAGLE’S WINGS

NEWSLETTER

MISSION STATEMENT

We are a community of Christians who, through God’s Word and Sacraments, are enabled

by the Holy Spirit to grow and serve Christ at home and in the world.

SUNDAY SCHEDULE WINTER SCHEDULE:

Sunday School 9:15 am, Worship 10:30am

Volume 30, Number 3 MARCH, 2019

Pastor Shawn M. Berkebile

atownpastor@comcast.net

Inside this issue Pastor’s Reflection ………………….........2

Worship Services/Service........................3

Mid-Week Lenten Services……………….4

Worship Participants……………………....5

Youth & Family Ministry………...…........6-7

Easter Flower order form…....……….…..8

Christian Ed………………………………..9

Donations Needed…………………..……10

Council Happenings/Easter Schedule....11

Prayer Concerns/Birthdays..….………...12

Treasurer’s Report………….…………….13 Calendar………………………..……..…..14

Special points of interest: Lenten Luncheons, Pg. 4

Easter Flower Order Form Pg.8

100 E Water St

Abbottstown, PA 17301

717-259-0796

RETURN SERVICES REQUESTED

DATED MATERIAL

PLACE STAMP HERE

717-259-0796

MARCH 10TH, 2AM

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Pastor’s Reflection….“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, tried and true,

with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, Sanctuary for You.” — “Sanctuary” by

Randy Scruggs & John Thompson

It is one of the most basic and common gestures, especially in church. An act of humility, an act of forgiveness, an act of vulnerability. This is the act of kneeling. This is something I do almost every night while singing the song

“Sanctuary” to the kids to help put them to sleep. I recently witnessed an act of kneeling that took me by surprise and I wasn’t in the church. I noticed a young man kneeling at the firehouse. He had just taken off his jacket of his turnout gear, after returning to the firehouse after a fire. It looked like he had covered his face with charcoal and I could see a clean line of skin being formed as the sweat rolled down the side of his cheek. This young man may have never walked into a church before, but that did not matter one iota … … because his posture and spirit had created his own sanctuary … his own space into which God poured out God’s holy presence. I was struck by the simple beauty of it. I was humbled by the transformation of an ordinary patch of floor space into a holy temple. It was humbling and beautiful, simple and yet exquisite. And it gave me pause. It invited me to ponder other places in the world where God steps into “ordinary” space and transforms it into holy ground. A young girl kneeling in the snow admiring a tulip breaking through the soil. A middle-aged man pausing to catch his breath in the middle of an afternoon jog, who lifts his face up to the rays of sun that have just broken through the morning cloud cover. A mother of three, cradling her youngest infant child in the crook of her arm, cooing as she fed the child, and the other two children look upon her with amazing love and devotion. A high school couple standing in line in the cafeteria, but lost in conversation, finding the line flowing around them. Our great God is everywhere; we all know this. But occasionally, God breaks into our world in ways that transform our flesh and blood into the holy sanctuaries he creates for us and in the holy sanctuaries he creates out of us. You don’t have to learn the song to use these words as a prayer for your journey through Lent. I pray you can find the sanctuary in you and around you, and I pray you find yourself at St. John’s. “Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, tried and true, with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living, Sanctuary for You.”

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Shawn

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MARCH 6

ASH WEDNESDAY

Evening Service 7pm

MARCH 3

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Holy Communion

Sunday School 9:15 am

Worship 10:30 am

MARCH 17

2nd Sunday in Lent

Holy Communion

Sunday School 9:15 am

Worship 10:30 am

MARCH 24

3rd Sunday in Lent

Holy Communion

Sunday School 9:15 am

Worship 10:30 am

MARCH 31

4th Sunday in Lent

Holy Communion

Sunday School 9:15 am

Worship 10:30 am

PAL LUNCH TEAM

The Hanover Area Council of Churches serves a hot meal 365

days a year to approximately 60 to 120 people. These meals are

lovingly made by membership congregation from all across the

area.

St. John’s Lutheran Church PAL Team is scheduled to serve our

next meal on March 15th.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!

If you are interested in joining our PAL team, please give Bev Strickler a call at 259-9878.

LAUNDRY LOVE—Tuesday, March 5th

St. John's has joined the movement called Laundry

Love. On the first Tuesday of the month we offer

free laundry to those with financial need at The

Sudz laundry mat at the Kennie's Shopping Plaza in

Spring Grove. This month we will offer free laundry on Tuesday, March 5 at 6:00pm. Watch

the video on our website to learn more. Contact the office if you are interested in joining

our team.

MARCH 10

1st Sunday in Lent

Holy Communion

Sunday School 9:15 am

Worship 10:30 am

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ALTAR GUILD………………………………………………………..……….Sandy Haverstick & Bev Strickler

OFFERING COUNTERS..............................................................Jared & Peggy Tyson and Larry & Janet Ellison

DEADLINE for APRIL 2018 Eagles Wings

is Sunday, March 17th

It is very important that articles of special programs, events, fundraisers, etc. are submitted to the church office. Thank you!!

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS

Don’t forget to move your clock an hour ahead

Sunday March 10th at 2:00am

March 17 (Communion) 2nd Sunday in Lent

Head Usher /Comm Asst……….Kathi Fuhrman/Bob Myers

Youth Communion Assistant…...………...Carson Burchette

Acolyte.……..………………………………..Norah Shively

Lector…………………..………..…………..Dot Bonebrake

Front Door Greeters……...………………………...Jim Hoff

Elevator Greeter.………..….………….Daniel & Robin Hoff

Nursery Staff………..………Patti DeGroft/Stacey Burchette

Bulletin Folders……….........................Larry & Janet Ellison

March 3 (Communion) Transfiguration of Our Lord

Head Usher /Communion Asst...Michele Trent/Allison Lewis

Youth Communion Assistant……....…...Nickolas Laughman

Acolyte.……..……...………………………....Colin Cutshall

Lector…………………………...……………Linda Meckley

Front Door Greeters……......................Dave & Lori McIntire

Elevator Greeter.……….……..Shannon & Jennifer McEvers

Nursery Staff………..……………Tammy & Alexis Cutshall

Bulletin Folders……..…....Carolyn Holsopple / Arlene Moul

March 6 (Communion) Ash Wednesday

Head Usher /Comm Assist……….Larry Welty / Jerry Lillich

Youth Communion Assistant……....……...Danielle McIntire

Acolyte.……..…………….........................Andrew Berkebile

Lector…………………..…........…...………...Terry Rodgers

Front Door Greeters…………………………Debra McEvers

Elevator Greeter.………………………...Brian & Kelly Leib

March 24 (Communion) 3rd Sunday in Lent

Head Usher / Comm Asst…..…Joe Rickrode/Katie Neiderer

Youth Communion Assistant…...……………...Sean Colgan

Acolyte.……..…………………....................Olivia Kirchner

Lector…………………..………..……..Margaret Linebaugh

Front Door Greeters……...………..Bill & Sandy Haverstick

Elevator Greeter.………..…………….Jeff & Gwen Harman

Nursery Staff………..….…...…Glenda & Brenda Hoffheins

March 10 (Communion) 1st Sunday in Lent

Head Usher /Comm Asst….....Paul Minnich / Mindy Shively

Youth Communion Assistant……....…………Josh Rickrode

Acolyte.……..……...…………………...Elizabeth Berkebile

Lector…………………………...………………Larry LaRue

Front Door Greeters…..….....................Mary & Larry LaRue

Elevator Greeter..….…………...Brenda & Glenda Hoffheins

Nursery Staff………..….………..…Luke & Kristin Rickrode

March 31 (Communion) 4th Sunday in Lent

Head Usher / Comm Asst..…...Lori McIntire/Karen Rodgers

Youth Communion Assistant…...……………..Clare Colgan

Acolyte.……..…………………........................Autumn Cole

Lector…………………..………..……………...Jared Tyson

Front Door Greeters……...…………….Robert & Julie Grim

Elevator Greeter.………..…………...…Dean & Lori Garrett

Nursery Staff………...………………...Amy & Sean Colgan

Bulletin Folders………….........Shirley Arnold/Bonnie Staub

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SEND YOUR KID TO CAMP THIS SUMMER

Camp Catalogs are available or check out information on the web. Go to

http://www.lutherancamping.org/summer/. Did you know that St. John’s

will help pay for camp? We have a camp scholarship fund built into our

budget. As a church, we want to send as many kids to camp as possible and

if someone in your family is interested in going to a regular week of camp,

please contact Rachel Berkebile (Rachel.berkebile@gmail.com) who serves

as our contact to the camp.

PEANUT BUTTER EGG SALE St. John’s Youth will be making Peanut Butter Eggs for the Easter Season. For the

next few weeks, youth will be filling pre-orders. Make sure you stop by the

Fellowship Hall to place your order. Orders will be available for pick-up on Sunday

April 14th and Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday Service

St. John’s will host an Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, March 6th at 7:00pm. This service will feature the imposition of ashes, reminding us of our mortality and that each of us, marked with the cross of Christ, makes our way through Lent longing for the baptismal waters of Easter, our spiritual rebirth.

CONFIRMATION PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND SOCIAL On Sunday, March 31 join our confirmation students and families as we host a

pancake breakfast (pancakes, sausage, fruit, etc.) and panel discussion during

the Sunday School hour. This event will take place in the Fellowship Hall from

9:00am till 10:15am. Kids in K-5th grade should arrive at 9:00 am if they want

breakfast and still attend their regular scheduled Sunday school class. Adults

should come and enjoy a perspective from our 8th and 9

th grade youth in the

church.

YOUTH BOWLING PARTY When: Sunday, March 3, 12:00 – 2:00pm

Where: Hanover Bowling Center

FREE for St. John’s Youth! This includes bowling, shoe rental, pizza,

snacks and drinks. Parents that want to eat/ bowl are invited to sign up, but

will be asked to pay separately. Sign up in the church Fellowship Hall or

email Jen Laughman at jalaughman@hotmail.com.

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LENTEN FAIR – SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Join us on Sunday, April 7, during the Sunday School hour, for an

multigenerational event. Everyone is welcome. Activities and stations will

fill the Fellowship Hall and this event will focus on the theme of Lent.

Coffee and breakfast items will be available to enjoy.

CONFIRMATION CAMP INFO Confirmation Camp will be held June 9th through June 14

th, at Camp

Nawakwa. Registration packets are available. This camp is paid for in full by

the church because we see it as an important part of our children’s faith

development. All students finished with 7th grade through 10

th grade are

eligible to attend. If you have any questions, please talk to Pastor Shawn.

NURSERY TIME The nursery on Sunday mornings is a wonderful resource, especially

for our young families. Did you know our nursey needs to be staffed

by two people (14+ years of age) at all times and background checks

are on file for all our volunteers? This is a big undertaking and we

could also use more volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering

for the nursery or helping out with Sunday School, please contact

Donna King (717-259-0796) or by email stjohnsatown@comcast.net

and we will cover your background check at no cost to you.

DINNER CHURCH You have heard of Dinner and a Movie…. well this is Dinner

and Church. Sign up online (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/

dinner-church-worship-tickets-56583184829) or in the

Fellowship Hall. Dinner Church is a time of worship,

fellowship, and breaking bread together during the season of

Lent. Dinner will be provided each of the five weeks. Sign up

so we know who is coming. Come and enjoy this time to be

together in prayer, hospitality, and good food.

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Once again, we are offering a selection of Easter plants in random, assorted colors. Please indicate your choice and the presentation as you wish it to appear in the Bulletin. Place payment and this order form in an envelope marked “Easter Flowers” and place it in the offering plate or give it to Sally Grim.

PLEASE USE ONE FORM PER FLOWER.

WHITE LILIES - $10.00 ______ HYACINTHS - $10.00_______

TULIPS - $10.00 __________ MUMS - $10.00___________

In honor of___________________________________________

In memory of_____________________________________________

Presented by _____________________________________________

*OR GIFT TO WORLD HUNGER - AMOUNT $_______________

In honor of__________________________________________

In memory of________________________________________

Presented by ________________________________________

Offering Envelope Name or Number #_____________________

DEADLINE FOR TURNING IN ORDERS AND PAYMENT IS

SUNDAY, MARCH 24th

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“GOOD NEWS & BREWS”

“Good News & Brews” is a partnership ministry between St. John’s and Trinity in East Berlin. We will gather on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Altland House for conversation; a time to be social, drink wine or beer and eat some dinner, if you wish. The pastors will share the Good News and a topic for conversation. Join us on Tuesday, March 26th for our next gathering. Please invite a friend.

St. John’s March Schedule

Join us in Fellowship Hall Sunday morning, March 3rd at 9:15am where we will gather for March's Multi-Generational Gathering. We'll explore the Sacrament of Holy Communion and prepare ourselves to enter into the Lenten season. The multi-generational gatherings are a wonderful opportunity for fellowship with other members of the congregation, and we'll have activities and breakfast foods for everyone - all ages! There's a sign-up sheet on the table in fellowship hall to bring breakfast items to share. Kindergarten through Fifth graders will explore the Lenten season with the Whirl Lectionary. We invite those who are high school age and older to please join Pastor Shawn for Coffee and Conversation on March 17th where we'll connect current events with scripture and our faith through the Wired Word. Confirmation will meet March 10th and 24th in the conference room upstairs. If you find yourself early to church, grab a cup of coffee or tea and a seat on the couch or at one of the tables in fellowship hall and enjoy some quiet or catch up with others! Finally, you're invited to attend a breakfast honoring the confirmands on Sunday morning March 31st. We'll begin serving breakfast - pancakes, sausages, and fruit - at 9am, so our preschoolers through fifth graders can get to Sunday School that morning at 9:15, but everyone else is welcomed to stay in the fellowship hall for a fun morning honoring our confirmation students!

March Schedule

• March 3rd 9:15am - Multigenerational Gathering in Fellowship Hall

• March 10th 9:15am - Confirmation meets & PreK -Middle School meets

• March 17th 9:15am - Coffee and Conversation meets & PreK -Middle School meets

• March 24th 9:15am - Confirmation meets & PreK -Middle School meets

• March 31st 9:00am - Confirmand Breakfast

• March 31st 9:15am - PreK - Middle School meets for Sunday School

THANK YOU!

We appreciate everyone’s prayers and well wishes for Kovi Sue Grim. Born November 5th at 3lbs., 14 oz., she spent 44 days in the NICU unit before coming home for Christmas. She is doing well and now weighs 8 lbs.,

5.9 oz. Everyone is doing fine except for lack of sleep.

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RUTH’S HARVEST

Ruth’s Harvest is a Backpack Ministry in our community. Donations need to be individual

servings and individually wrapped. St. John’s Lutheran Church collects food for Hanover

School District and Bermudian Springs Elementary. Please remember to purchase

peanut-free products.

Donations should be dropped into appropriately marked bins on the stage of the Fellowship

Hall.

SPECIAL NEEDS

RUTH’S HARVEST BERMUDIAN SPRINGS

CHEF BOYARDEE SINGLE SERVE CUPS, POP TARTS & PUDDING CUPS

Packing March 20 @ 10AM

RUTH’S HARVEST HANOVER

OATMEAL & POPTARTS

Packing April 4 @ 9AM

ABBOTTSTOWN/EAST BERLIN FOOD

PANTRY

On February 6th, 62 families were served at the East Berlin Pantry; which

included a total of 144 individuals and on February 7th, 33 families were

served at the Abbottstown Pantry, which included a total of 79 individuals.

Donate your time—Volunteers Needed: Anyone is welcome to come and volunteer at the Abbottstown / East Berlin Food Pantry. The Pantry is open every first Wednesday of the month at Trinity Lutheran Church, East Berlin and the first Thursday of the month at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Abbottstown from 3:00pm until 6:00pm. Our next dates are March 6th & 7th.

Simply show up or sign up at volunteersignup.org/3TDKP for East Berlin

volunteersignup.org/BD8QJ for Abbottstown

The grocery cart located in the elevator lobby is available for monthly donations. Nonperishable food and assorted canned goods are always needed.

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Council approved three Fellowship Hall Rentals: Feb. 23rd, Feb. 24th and March 30th.

Dinner Church will be held Thursday evening’s from March 14th through April 11th from 6:30pm—7:30 pm.

Worship and dinner will be offered. A sign-up sheet is available for volunteers to help with soups, salads,

sandwiches and desserts.

Due to the postage increase, newsletters will be mailed to homebound members only. All others can be picked

up at the church entrance or will be emailed.

It has been brought to council’s attention that there is a need to seek options and bids for the boiler system in the

Education Building. Jared Tyson and Patti DeGroft will work on this project.

Pastor Shawn and Kevin Moul will be going through the church to determine what is needed as far as smoke

detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.

The paving at the entrance into the parking lot next to the East Water Street home is breaking. Larry Welty will

address this issue with the cemetery board.

Council agreed to reimburse Pastor Shawn for his use of the cell phone and tablet needed for the church.

There will be a stool/ladder purchased for changing the Eternal Candle each week. Michele Trent will look into

this purchase.

St. John’s is the winner of this year’s Souper Bowl of Caring Trophy, with a total 4040 points. Total donations

for all participants came to: 740 bottles of laundry detergent, 3400 non perishable canned goods, 534 condiment

bottles and $2,085.00 in cash. Congratulations goes out to everyone who participated.

Palm Sunday Service Sunday, April 14th – 10:30am Service of Word and Sacrament, procession w/ palms, and Youth Choirs

Holy Week Schedule Maundy Thursday April 18th - 7:00pm Service of Word and Sacrament, foot washing, stripping of the altar

Good Friday April 19th - 7:00pm Adoration of the Crucified Lord, and Silent Reflection

Easter Sunday Worship Service, April 21st – 8:00am Service of Word and Sacrament, Chancel Choir

Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt- 9:15am A Free-Will offering during breakfast will support Ruth’s Harvest.

Worship Service- 10:30am Service of Word and Sacrament and Youth Choirs

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP SERVICES

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THANK YOU!

I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers and cards after the passing of my mother. It is a very difficult time, but we know she is in a better place. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated. Donna King

REMEMBERING IN PRAYER:

Earl Altland, Deb Keeney, Stacey Riggs, Kris Spangler, Kevin Shearer, Shirley Crawford, Laura Franze, Thomas Niedererr, Sally Gardner & family, Diana Rager, Joe Heltzer, Georgia Weibley (sister of Roy Slothour), Daniel Creagar (brother-in-law of Mary Fogle), Edie Smith, Amy Ogurcak, Robin Talbott, James Wallace, Elaine Galusha, Janet Heflin, Bruce Slaybaugh, Annie Sharrer, Donna Dressler, Daylin Bennet, Dorothy Jeffcoat (friend of Lorna Runk), Robert Myers (brother-in-law of Lisa Neiderer), Adam Jones (friend of Lisa Neiderer), Michele Trent,, Betty Sharrer, Ryan Laughman, Frank George, the family of Charlene Atha, David Trent, Carmen

Miranda (parents of Ivonne Gabrielson), Josh Williams, Estella Goodall, Annie Quin, Darlene Rodgers, Lois Martoranna, Joshua Snyder, Sue Klunk, John Jeffcoat, Jessica & Dylan Breighner, Bonnie Kauffman, George Slothour, Marilyn Wallace, Mary Lawrence, Linda Utz, Cindy Linebaugh, Jeanette Wolf.

HOMEBOUND:

Erma Becker, Lena Breighner, Suzanne George, Dorothy Hoffheins, Romaine Hoke, Miriam & Harold Huff, Earl Linebaugh, Merle Linebaugh, Virginia Myers, Morgan Ruth and Klaus Molzahn.

Stacey Burchette March 1

Edward Swope March 1

Danielle Mitchell March 4

Joan Slonaker March 4

Tammy Cutshall March 6

Mary Fogle March 7

Adalise Tello March 7

Bob Myers March 8

Beverly Strickler March 9

Jeff Harman March 10

Andrew Zeigler March 11

Katlyn DeGroft March 12

Linda Lillich March 14

Jillian Zinn March 22

Brittany Bathurst March 23

Daniel Laughman March 23

Julie Safely March 23

Braden Tyson March 24

Neal Wilt March 24

Kristin Rabenstein March 26

Jason Safley March 27

Carmen Baker March 28

*Denotes Homebound Member

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Envelope - Special Designated Giving for March:

______________________________________ During the month of March, the Special Designation on your

envelope will go to the ELCA World Hunger.

It is our hope that gifts designated to “Special Designation” in

March go above and beyond someone’s regular giving to the

general fund.

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MARCH SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2

AA

Al-Anon 7pm

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sunday School

9:15am Laundry Love Food Pantry Food Pantry Al-Anon 9am-12

Worship 10:30am 6pm 2:30-6pm 2:30-6pm

Holy Communion

Bowling Party 12pm

Ash Wednesday AA 8th Sunday after

Epiphany 7pm Worship Al-Anon 7pm

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1st Sunday in Lent Lenten Lunch @ Sunday School

9:15am Zwingli 12pm PAL Lunch

Worship 10:30am Council 7pm 9am—1pm

Daylight Savings Chancel Choir Dinner Church AA

Jr. Choir 8:45am 7:30pm 6:30-7:30pm Al-Anon 7pm

17 18 19 20 Spring Begins 21 22 23

Sunday School 9:15am Ruth’s Harvest Cemetery Clean

Worship 10:30am East Berlin 10am Up 8am

Holy Communion Packing

2nd Sunday in Lent

Lenten Lunch Dinner Church AA

@ Trinity 12pm 6:30-7:30pm Al-Anon 7pm

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Sunday School

9:15am

Worship 10:30am Fellowship Hall

3rd Sunday in Lent Lenten Lunch @ Dinner Church 1:00pm—5:00pm

Good News & Brews 6:30pm St. John’s 12pm 6:30-7:30pm AA

Al-Anon 7pm

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Sunday School

Worship 10:30am

4th Sunday in Lent