Poinsettias to decorate our sanctuary for Christmas are now on sale! They are $7.00 each. To order, please sign up on the sheet by the kitchen or by the front entrance to the church, or contact the church office. Remember to designate your poinsettias in honor or in memory of your loved ones if you would like to do so. Payment can be in the form of cash or check, mailed to St. John’s Lutheran Church at P.O. Box 120 Spinnerstown, PA 18968, or brought in on Sunday morning and put in the offering plate. Checks can be made out to St. John’s Lutheran Church. Remember to label your payment with your name, envelope number, amount, and number of poinsettias. If you prefer, you can use Vanco to make your payment as well! Look for the tile labeled “Poinsettias”. Last day to order is November 28.
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The Fellowship Committee met at church to put together “Autumn Bags” for our Homebound and 90+ club. The bags were filled with the current Word in Season daily devotional, assorted wrapped crackers and cookies, a cup of applesauce, along with a handmade pumpkin/scarecrow craft which members of the committee assembled. The bags were hand delivered and were greatly appreciated. A lot has changed due to the pandemic but we on the committee want to make sure that our Homebound and 90+ club are never forgotten, are always in our thoughts and prayers and are a vital part of St. John’s.
Confirmation Schedule
The Confirmation Class meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 7:30.
Each student should come with a copy of the Luther Study Bible and Luther’s Small Catechism. We’ll provide those things, but the order might take a little time. You can find a free edition of Luther’s Small Catechism as a smartphone app right here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.augsburgfortress.smallcatechism&hl=en_US&gl=US https://apps.apple.com/us/app/luthers-small-catechism/id1114077769 UBC Learning Event: Please mark your calendars for Saturday, January 8, 2022 when we'll have a UBC Learning Event! We're preparing to learn about collaborative models of ministry. The UBC Exec. Team is planning the event with members of SEPA's Vitality Team.
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First Communion: Pastor Kaegler is planning to hold a First Communion course this Fall. All Christians who have not yet learned the Church's teachings on Holy Communion are welcome to take part in these courses - which are tailored and scheduled for different age groups - from young children to adults. Contact Pastor Kaegler to let him know that you're interested and for scheduling. Those who already receive Communion, but wish to explore the meaning and the mystery some more are also welcome.
New Member Courses: After a long pandemic, and several more regular visitors both in-person and online, St. John's is planning to start New Member Courses this Fall for reception into membership on Reformation Day. Please contact the pastor for more information and scheduling. Home Visits
A reminder that if you have not received Holy Communion, wish to receive it, but have been unable to attend Worship - you are welcome to call the Church Office and schedule a visitation with Pastor Kaegler - who is glad to bring the Lord's Supper to anyone who hungers for it. |
- Willing Workers Corner
Last month the Willing Workers donated $500 to Outreach in the hopes that it would inspire others who have plenty to also give. These are people who are struggling in our own community. When we received our thank you, these specific cases were cited in the letter:
- A single mom with a two year old child.
- A young man who lost his job due to COVID-19 and has been living in his truck.
- A single man, in early substance use recovery and just starting back to work.
- And the very good news of a family with children who Outreach Care has helped to shepherd to an apartment and remains in communication. They are doing well now on their own!
Our prayer shawls and squares were blessed on September 19, and are available for anyone to give to people who need care and support during difficult times.
Willing Workers are back to meeting in person on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 10 AM. Crafting will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 10 AM. Please feel free to join us!
Recipe of the Month – Apple Crisp
Thank you, Cathy Fried, for this delicious recipe!
Dough: Syrup:
2 cups sifted flour 1 ½ cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt ¼ tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup shortening ¼ tsp nutmeg
½ cup milk 6 – 10 drops red food coloring (optional)
6 medium apples (Pared and cored) 3 tbsp butter or margarine
Combine sugar, water, spices and food coloring, bring to boil. Remove from heat and add butter.
Sift dry ingredients together, cut in shortening until resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and stir until flour is moistened.
n lightly floured surface, roll 1/8” to 1/4" thick into 12” x 18" rectangle, cut into 6 squares. Place apple in each square. Moisten edges of squares, fold corners to center and pinch edges together. Place 1 inch apart in ungreased baking pan.
Pour syrup over dumplings, sprinkle with sugar.
Bake 35 minutes or until apples are done at 375 degrees. Serves 6.
(From Pennsylvania State Grange Cookbook 1972)
Thank you, Cathy Fried, for this delicious recipe!
Dough: Syrup:
2 cups sifted flour 1 ½ cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cups water
1 tsp salt ¼ tsp cinnamon
2/3 cup shortening ¼ tsp nutmeg
½ cup milk 6 – 10 drops red food coloring (optional)
6 medium apples (Pared and cored) 3 tbsp butter or margarine
Combine sugar, water, spices and food coloring, bring to boil. Remove from heat and add butter.
Sift dry ingredients together, cut in shortening until resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and stir until flour is moistened.
n lightly floured surface, roll 1/8” to 1/4" thick into 12” x 18" rectangle, cut into 6 squares. Place apple in each square. Moisten edges of squares, fold corners to center and pinch edges together. Place 1 inch apart in ungreased baking pan.
Pour syrup over dumplings, sprinkle with sugar.
Bake 35 minutes or until apples are done at 375 degrees. Serves 6.
(From Pennsylvania State Grange Cookbook 1972)
St. John’s Prayer List and Prayer Circle
Our Prayer List – Each week in our bulletin there appears a list of people for whom congregation members are asked to pray. The names are read during the “Prayers of Intercession.” The names are listed for four weeks and then removed, but they can be re-added every four weeks for as long as necessary. To add a name to the prayer list - or to renew a listing - please contact Church Secretary Jen Bara at 215-536-0734, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or send her an e-mail at stjohnsspinnerstown@ gmail.com. To assure a name will be included in the next bulletin, please contact her by 10 a.m. Thursday.
St. John’s Prayer Circle is ready and waiting for your requests. If you know someone in need of prayer – or if you would like to join the circle and expand our collective voice – please call Loretta Thorsen at 215-679-2356 or Joan Seiger at 215-257-7478.
E-mailing Prayer Concerns: For any confidential prayer concerns to give to the Pastor - reach out to: spinnerstownprayerline@gmail.com or go to the Prayer Request page.
Our Prayer List – Each week in our bulletin there appears a list of people for whom congregation members are asked to pray. The names are read during the “Prayers of Intercession.” The names are listed for four weeks and then removed, but they can be re-added every four weeks for as long as necessary. To add a name to the prayer list - or to renew a listing - please contact Church Secretary Jen Bara at 215-536-0734, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or send her an e-mail at stjohnsspinnerstown@ gmail.com. To assure a name will be included in the next bulletin, please contact her by 10 a.m. Thursday.
St. John’s Prayer Circle is ready and waiting for your requests. If you know someone in need of prayer – or if you would like to join the circle and expand our collective voice – please call Loretta Thorsen at 215-679-2356 or Joan Seiger at 215-257-7478.
E-mailing Prayer Concerns: For any confidential prayer concerns to give to the Pastor - reach out to: spinnerstownprayerline@gmail.com or go to the Prayer Request page.
Small Groups in the Building - Based on the available data, our Church Council has decided that our congregational building can begin hosting small group meetings once again. All of St. John's ministry groups are welcome to begin using the building for meetings and activities based on their own comfort level. We thank you for your patience and faithfulness over this past year.
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Leading Worship: Are you looking for a way to serve God and deepen your faith among the congregation? Consider helping out with our weekly worship services. We’re hoping to add more Communion Assistants, Lectors, Ushers, and Greeters to our rotation. Every member can help - young and old. Ask the pastor or a member of the Worship and Music Committee to learn more.
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Redner’s Save-a-Tape Receipts can be mailed to St. John's Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 120, Spinnerstown, PA 18968.
Save-a-Tape not only saves you money, but also benefits St. John’s in the form of cash rewards! If you are not already signed up, please consider doing so! Please note that if you forget to bring your card, you can give the cashier your phone number to receive credit! Thank you! |
2021 Church Council
Stephen Spry - President
Winnie Peterson - Vice President
Kathie Afflerbach - Secretary
Richard Krauss - Treasurer
Jerry Bassett
Colton Landes
Maureen Potsko
Stephen Spry - President
Winnie Peterson - Vice President
Kathie Afflerbach - Secretary
Richard Krauss - Treasurer
Jerry Bassett
Colton Landes
Maureen Potsko
Nursery update:
Unfortunately at this time, we are not able to offer Nursery care during worship.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and hope to be able to offer it again in the future.
Unfortunately at this time, we are not able to offer Nursery care during worship.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and hope to be able to offer it again in the future.
Priority Parking: In response to the need for easier parking for some of our members, we've set up a few Priority Parking spaces (marked with yellow lines) to help people with limited mobility get into and out of their cars, and a shorter walk into the church.
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Narcotics Anonymous: After receiving a request from coordinators, prayerful deliberation by the council, and confirming good guidelines for building use, St. John's will begin to host an NA home group for the benefit of the community on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. All who struggle with addiction are welcome.
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2021 Stewards of the Month
The Stewards of the Month for September
are everyone in the “Work Party”
who came to church to help move everything out of the basement after the flood.
Thank you!
The Stewards of the Month for May
are Megan & Jacob Felten
for a fantastic job sorting out the food for the Backpack for Pumas program at Pfaff Elementary.
They carried heavy bags across the street and were a real help completing this task.
April's Steward of the Month
is the Worship & Music Committee for the wonderful job they did to pull together the outside Easter Service,
including the set-up and physical layout for the parking lot, music, and a whole lot of work behind the scenes!
March’s Stewards of the Month
are Steve & Betty Sinisko for their strong commitment to serve as volunteers
to prepare the meals and help in any way they can for
our Food for Friends and Loaves & Fishes social ministries.
The Steward of the Month for February
is Darcy McConahy for the extra effort
to make sure that ashes along with the soup packets
were put together for distribution to the congregation.
January's Steward of the Month
is Randy Felten in appreciation for all the work
he has done & continues to do for St. John's.
The Stewards of the Month for September
are everyone in the “Work Party”
who came to church to help move everything out of the basement after the flood.
Thank you!
The Stewards of the Month for May
are Megan & Jacob Felten
for a fantastic job sorting out the food for the Backpack for Pumas program at Pfaff Elementary.
They carried heavy bags across the street and were a real help completing this task.
April's Steward of the Month
is the Worship & Music Committee for the wonderful job they did to pull together the outside Easter Service,
including the set-up and physical layout for the parking lot, music, and a whole lot of work behind the scenes!
March’s Stewards of the Month
are Steve & Betty Sinisko for their strong commitment to serve as volunteers
to prepare the meals and help in any way they can for
our Food for Friends and Loaves & Fishes social ministries.
The Steward of the Month for February
is Darcy McConahy for the extra effort
to make sure that ashes along with the soup packets
were put together for distribution to the congregation.
January's Steward of the Month
is Randy Felten in appreciation for all the work
he has done & continues to do for St. John's.
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2020 Stewards of the Month
December’s Stewards of the Month are Dick Helm and Wayne McConahy for maintaining the grove. There are a lot of leaves & branches out there! Thank you both! The Steward of the Month for November is Ron Lausch for heading up our food donation program, as well as his willingness to always pitch in (even when no one asks him to!) October's Steward of the Month is Rob McConahy for his exceptional work on recording, editing, and posting the online services to make worship accessible to people at home every week. The Stewards of the Month for September are Steve & Maureen Potsko for all of their work in getting the grove ready for worship, stepping up with Altar Guild and SO much more. February’s Stewards of the Month are Bill & Mary Slotter for their willingness to defray the cost of a person hired to tend to the nursery. The Steward of the Month for January is Kathie Sensinger for her years of service as Council Secretary. |
2019 Stewards of the Month
Steward of the Month for December is Brenda Lausch in appreciation of her taking responsibility for coffee hour, her leadership within Willing Workers, and caring for church property November’s Stewards of the Month Russell & Denise Martin for multiple activities for the good of the Church October's Stewards of the Month are the members of the Handbell Choir for providing inspiring music during worship. The Steward of the Month for September is Marilyn Weikel for her years of dedicated service on the Altar Guild. The Stewards of the Month for April are the Willing Workers for all they do to help support the church, including making and selling over 7,000 chocolate covered coconut and peanut butter eggs! The Steward of the Month for March is Lillian Hinderliter. Instead of asking for gifts for her 9th birthday, Lillian asked for donations to the Peaceable Kingdom for the care of Bo the donkey. February’s Stewards of the Month are Becky Hinderliter, Tina Felten, and Jenna Everitt for their Facebook posts that led to hundreds of pounds of food for Pfaff Elementary's call for needed food for the Backpack for Pumas program. Dick Helm is January’s Steward of the Month for his years of dedication to maintaining the grounds and his management of the cemetery. |
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2018 Stewards of the Month
November’s Stewards of the Month are all the members who provided activities for Cameron Wakely, the 7 year old Pfaff student dealing with a serious illness. Steward of the Month for October For being the face of St. John’s at the Via clothing drive, Harvest Home and the church plant sales, we recognize Earl White as Steward of the month. Stewards of the Month for September We recognize and thank those members who contributed to the two requests for school supplies for under privileged children earlier in September. Thank you for sharing your treasures with those in need. The Steward of the Month for June is Ron Lausch for the amazing amount of work & commitment to feeding the less fortunate through the "Backpacks for Pumas" program at Pfaff Elementary and coordinating our giving to the Quakertown Food Bank. May’s Steward of the Month is Noel Brooke for her more than 5 decades of dedicated participation in our choir. The Steward of the Month for April is Giacinta Barndt for the outstanding fund raising event on behalf of Gary Small. We are saluting all of the time and effort this project demanded. March's Steward of the Month is Doug Thorsen for all his contributions to the church. The Stewards of the Month for February are all the Blood Drive volunteers and participants. January's Steward of the Month is Becky Hinderliter for her leadership as Council President, her dedication to Christian Education, and the coordination of Backpacks for Pumas. |
2017 Stewards of the Month
The Steward of the Month for December is Jen Burns, for her beautiful work on the bulletin and Spire covers. The nursery volunteers are November’s Stewards of the Month for answering a very important call which is essential to the growth of the church. Bob & Myrtle Boardman were elected as October's Stewards of the Month for their many years of service and dedication. Earl White was elected as Steward of the Month for September. Earl embodies everything a Christian and good Steward should strive to be. The Adult Choir, Bell Choir and Church Musicians were elected as May's Stewards of the Month for their talent and dedication. Joan Seiger was elected April’s Steward of the Month for all her "behind the scenes" contributions to the life of St. John's. The acolytes are elected March’s Stewards of the Month. The congregation thanks them for their dedicated work as acolytes and as good stewards. Ivyanna Barndt Anderson Everitt Lochlan Everitt Josh Felten Blake Hinderliter Brady Massinger Patti Sigmans was elected February’s Steward of the Month for her years of dedication as Church Treasurer. Darcy McConahy was elected January’s Steward of the Month for turning her job into a personal ministry that always enhances our services. |
Winter Storm Policy
In general, during any winter storm activity, the church should not be considered open until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases. On week days, if there is a delayed school start, sidewalks will not be cleared before 10 a.m. If schools are closed or there is an early dismissal, the sidewalks will not be cleared until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases or 10 a.m. the following morning. On Saturdays, the sidewalks will not be cleared until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases. The church should be considered closed unless other arrangements are made. If the winter storm involves more than (2) two inches of snow and/or freezing rain, the coordinator for any event should contact the church to determine accessibility.
In general, during any winter storm activity, the church should not be considered open until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases. On week days, if there is a delayed school start, sidewalks will not be cleared before 10 a.m. If schools are closed or there is an early dismissal, the sidewalks will not be cleared until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases or 10 a.m. the following morning. On Saturdays, the sidewalks will not be cleared until (4) four hours after the winter storm ceases. The church should be considered closed unless other arrangements are made. If the winter storm involves more than (2) two inches of snow and/or freezing rain, the coordinator for any event should contact the church to determine accessibility.