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ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH OF MELROSE PARK, PA

APRIL 2014

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Ready for spring! I have been ready for spring since January 22, which was such a cold day, after so many cold and snowy days, that I made reservations to fly to Florida after Easter without clearing the dates and times with my sister (at whose home we will be staying) because I couldnt wait another minute! That was over 2 cold and snowy months ago. As I write this, it is below freezing outside. We all need spring, right? Now the Green Blade Rises is one of my favorite Easter hymns. (#148 in the Lutheran Book of Worship, #379 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship) It likens the great story of Jesus suffering, death and resurrection to a wheat seed that has been planted in the earth. Laid in the earth, like grain that sleeps unseen is the Good Friday reference, while the refrain is the Easter reference: Love is come again like wheat arising green. As I reflect on this long winter (that I do pray is nearing its end), I am especially drawn to verse 4 of this hymn: When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, Your touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; Love is come again like wheat arising green.

Wintry Hearts Of course, hearts can be wintry no matter what the weather is outside. And when my heart is wintry, I lean on the rest of the body of Christ (you!) to remind me of Gods love that comes again and again. Gods love comes like a determined spring flower, pushing up out of the cool earth. Gods love is made known through you and me. Gods love is made known to those who are sad or desperate by us, when we offer an encouraging word or an understanding nod or by actions that lead to greater justice in our society. Love is Come Again That is truly the point of the Jesus thing: that Gods love is come, again, and will not be denied, by any power. Not evil, not hatred, not snow, not death! I look forward to seeing you in worship so we can celebrate Gods love that does indeed come again even in the worst of winters and the worst of our lives. [As always, when your hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, contact me or another member of St. Johns so we can be the body of Christ for you. Pastor Donna Wright, 215-635-3465 or 215-277-5744.]
Pastors Page

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Susan & Tom MacPherson, SEPA Synod Lay Missionaries in Tanzania -

The MacPhersons are serving for a third year through the fall of 2014at the Irente Childrens Home (ICH), a mission of the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. The Irente Childrens Home cares for babies and toddlers who have lost their parents or whose families are too destitute to raise them. Susan and Tom care for the children, mentor the young women in training, teach English, help with repairs, ferry children in their truck, and participate in all aspects of life at ICH. As self-funded lay missionaries, they rely on support from individuals and churches to carry out their work in Irente. We ask all SEPA Synod congregations to pray regularly for the MacPhersons as they share Gods love walking shoulder to shoulder with brothers and sisters in Christ in Tanzania. To find out more about their experiences, please read their blog at http://macphersonmission.blogspot.com/. Heres a sneak peek to what you will find:

Sunday, June 1st 3:00 p.m. Organ Concert by St. John's Director of Music

Chuck Griffin
Reception following Sunday, March 30th 11:20-1:30 Fellowship Hall Special transition workshop "Pastor-Congregation Attachment" Led by the Rev. Dr. Dee Littleton
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Friday, January 17, 2014

Our trip to Germany Christmas 2013

Last year, we had the pleasure of a visit from our son Chris and his wife Abigail over the Christmas holidays. This year, they invited us to spend the holidays with them in their new home in Stuttgart, Germany. After two Christmases away from home, we felt it would be great to experience a cold Christmas. As some of you may know, Christmas with palm trees and hot weather is hard to understand when you are from the Philadelphia area.
Larger Church

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Volunteer Seller Needed

VOLUNTEER VALUES
Did you ever think about how many hours are volunteered at St. Johns. Well start with Sunday morning. The acolyte, worship assistant and lector are all volunteers. Then we have the communion assistants, ushers and sound system people. Oh then someone has to count the offering and put together the coffee hour. I almost forgot my favorite the choir. This is just Sunday morning. Joyce puts together great receptions for art shows. Roberta has been working on cleaning and organizing the many rooms and little corners of the church. Barbara Lawson has been helping in the office t wo Tuesdays a month.
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If you have experience selling items on Craigslist or Ebay, and would be willing to donate your time to sell unused items to benefit St. Johns, contact Pastor Donna or Roberta.

Simply Giving
Several members of St. Johns already use Simply Giving as their way of making their offerings to St. Johns. Forms are available at the church or contact the church office so one can be mailed to you.

Contact Peter Rasmussen for more details.

We could use more help with the office Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.
Maybe you had an idea of something that needs to be taken care of. But you just didnt know how to start. If you just call and ask someone will help you get started. You could be in the VOLUNTEER VALUES next month telling us what project you have volunteered to get started.

Thanks to:
Ken Kretschmer, Jerry Coyle and Roberta Coyle for a lot of little "fixes" around the building. St. John's is looking better every day!

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St. Johns Spring Meeting 2014

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Congregational Life

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7:30 PM Choir

6:30 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip

7:0 0 PM Pas sion/ Poe try study

6:3 0 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip

St. J ohns W ors hip 11 :00 AM Coffe e Hour 11 :30 Eglise Francophone Wors hip 11 :30 Soc ia l Ministry and Parsonage Comte.
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7:30 PM Choir

6:3 0 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip 7PM tra ns ition tea m 7:0 0 PM Pas sion/ Poe try study

6:3 0 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip

P A S S O V E R
7:30 PM Choir

14TH 22ND

P A S S O V E R 14TH 22ND

Palm Sunda y 10AM St. J ohns W ors hip 11 :00 AM Coffe e Hour 11 :30 Council Mee ting 1:3 0 Eglis e Francophone Worship P A S S O V E R 14TH 22ND

R C H I ME n i e D ea d l

Maundy Thursday 7:3 0 p.m. 7:3 0 Good Friday

6:30 PM Eglise Francophone W orship

21 st thru 29 t h Pastor Donna on vacation

Easter Sunday

Earth Day 7:30 PM Choir

6:3 0 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip

6:3 0 PM Eglise He lping Francophone Ha nds Day Wors hip 9:3 0-4:3 0

10 AM St. Johns W orship 11 :00 AM Coffe e Hour 11 :30 Eglise Francophone W ors hip

7:30 PM Choir

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10 AM St. Johns W orship 11 :00 AM Coffe e Hour 11 :30 Eglise Francophone Wors hip 11:30 Book Club

6:3 0 PM Eglise Francophone Wors hip

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From the Council

Thursday nights in the Hagan Room, 7:00-8:15 p.m. April 3 and April 10. Transition Events May 18 Community Needs Event June 8 Mission Voting

The Council met on March 16th. Here are some of the things we did.
Decided to put the big cross outside during Lent. We continued to discuss ways to cut expenses. Looking into different proposals for the copier in the office. Discussed the other goals that Council has established for the year. We received updates from all committees.

Church Council will meet again on April 13th at 11:30am.

From the Music Director

Musicians love to celebrate anniversaries. Most often, we honor the birthdays of great composers or legendary performers. On Sunday June 1st at 3:00 pm, well celebrate a different milestone in the life of this congregation; the 50th anniversary of the installation of our M. P. Moller pipe organ. As Eastertide draws to a close, please plan to join us to celebrate a half-century of service from this one- of- a- kind, commissioned work of art. The performance will feature St. Johns Organist and Music Director Chuck Griffin and will include works for organ as ! well as orchestral music transcribed for organ. ! !8

From the Council & Staff Stuff

Easter Flower Order Form

Easter Sunday is April 20th, 2014
If you would like to order flowers to decorate the church for Easter, please fill out this form and place it with your payment in the offering basket. You could also mail it to St. Johns Lutheran Church, 1224 Melrose Avenue, Elkins Park, PA 19027. The last day to order flowe rs is Sunday April 13th, 2014 ( Palm Sunday ). You may take your flowers home with you after the 10: 00 AM Service on Easter Sunday

Flowers Offered:
Hydrange a ----------------------------------Azalea Tulips Mums ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$ 18 each $ 18 each $ 12 each $ 12 each

Name of donor (s) ________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Please circle one:

In Memory of

or

In Honor of

__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Hydrangea Azalea Tulips Mums -------------------------------------------------------------------$ 18 each $ 18 each $ 12 each $ 12 each Quantity Quantity Quantity Quantity ______ ______ ______ ______ Total ______ Total ______ Total ______ Total ______

Please make checks payable to St. Johns Lutheran Church, Melrose Park. If you have any questions, please con tact the church office: 215 635-3465

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Amount Enclosed

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Thank you for your order.

Welcome
from the staff of St. Johns
Donna Wright, Interim Pastor prdonnawright@gmail.com David Lembo, Parish Administrator atchair@gmail.com Chuck Griffin, Jr, Director of Music Sibyl Weidner, Design Specialist

Volunteer Staff
Sunday School Coordinator: Norajean Flanagan Office: Roberta Coyle Parish Activities: Steve Brown !"#$%&&"'()%**+,,""-!Allison Nguyen, Bob Baetke, Joyce Rasmussen, and Marcia Boraas Financial Resources: Tim Terry Property Resources: Tim Terry Social Ministry: Norajean Flanagan

Congregational Leaders

Fellowship
Coffee Hour: Sue Kershner & Steve Brown St. Johnsmen: Steve Brown & John Kopyar Ruth Circle: Joan Seader

Worship & Arts

Worship: Joyce Rasmussen & Bob Baetke Arts: Cindy Raff Altar Care: Fran & Roger Pinnel Sacristan: Roger Pinnel Flowers: Johnny Bruno

Adult Forum Room April 27th 11:45 am

CHIMER Deadlines: April 16th for May 2014, May 21st for June 2014, June 18th for July/August 2014, August 20th for September 2014
September 17 for October 2014 Your voice is welcome in the CHIMER. Material submitted beyond the deadline may or may not be included.
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Officers of the 2014 Church Council

Bob Baetke - President Johnny Bruno Vice President Chris Suloff Secretary Josh Pinnel - Financial Secretary Tim Terry - Treasurer Other Council Members: Roberta Coyle, Janet Leech, & Peter Rasmussen, Pr. Donna Wright

The CHIMER
Editor & Design: Sibyl Weidner Photographer: Bert Glenn CHIMER Copyright 2014 St. Johns Lutheran Church of Melrose Park, PA Whos Who at St. Johns

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