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E-Newsletter for May, 2020

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.

Volume 31, Number 5 MAY, 2020

Pastor Shawn M. Berkebile

atownpastor@comcast.net

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

St. John’s Happenings………….3-4

Treasurer’s Report…………….......4 Prayer Concerns/Birthdays..……...5

Special points of interest:

Prayer Concerns/Birthdays Pg. 5

717-259-0796

Thank you Lord for all our beautiful

mothers. Help us to support them and keep

them in our prayers. May you bless them

now on this their special day. Amen.

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Pastor’s Reflection….

Last week was a whirlwind. The week before that was even crazier. None of us, only God, could anticipate how much things would change. Considering all the uncertainty, I am so encouraged by the way you all have cared for one another. While Rachel and I, Mindy and Donna, have been doing our best behind the scenes, to set up sustainable worship and education for our church family, we’ve been blown away at how you’ve have taken the initiative to reach out and check in on us. Knowing that while we’re scrambling to take care of you,

you’ve already been taking care of us, has been an immeasurable source of comfort. Words cannot express the comfort I know I feel by those small acts of kindness. It reinforces the truth that every part of the body is necessary for our continued thriving. That is what you’ve done, and by God’s grace that’s what I and our St. John’s staff hope to help you keep doing.

Now for the update. Since the terrain of this situation is continually shifting, the church council and I don’t feel it’s wise to try to make a comprehensive road map just yet. However, just because the path is foggy down the road doesn’t mean that the next steps aren’t crystal clear. Much of this is unchartered territory and we are creating this road map as we’re taking the journey. Our goal is for communication to be clear, concise, and consistent. Although things may constantly be changing, I want you to be confident that our commitment to you is unwavering.

We will continue to use mail chimp for all our church wide communication, we will also be posting communication on our website. www.stjohnsatown.com. If you click the link now, you will notice that a new worship tab has been created and information on the home page is as up to date as possible. If you don’t receive the mail chimp emails please contact Donna in the church office by phone 717-259-0796 or by email stjohnsatown@comcast.net. She will add your email address. You should also expect Facebook and YouTube to be used more regularly.

Also, our congregation has had great success using ZOOM and if you are still having trouble with connecting via ZOOM please give me a call. ZOOM allows everyone to connect with our worship services and bible studies with just a regular phone connection. The Meeting ID & Password will always be the same.

As it stands, my plan is to follow the guidelines provided by the CDC. At this time, we don’t know when groups of more than 100 people will be allowed to gather, as soon as we do know, we will make sure communication is crystal clear. I want you to know that even though we might not see each other face to face (ZOOM is a great substitute), I still hold each of you in my daily prayers.

“May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.”

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Shawn Berkebile

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PRAYER CONCERNS

For homebound members:

Erma Becker, Gloria Breighner, Suzanne George, Dorothy Hoffheins, Romaine Hoke, Miriam Huff, Cindy Linebaugh, Earl Linebaugh, Merle Linebaugh, Virginia Myers and Darlene Rodgers

For those serving the larger church:

Dr. Stephan J. and Jodi Lynn Swanson – Tanzania

For persons undergoing treatment or hospitalized:

Eunice Mentzer—recovering at home after a recent stay in the hospital

Jim Leonard—receiving care at home after a fall

Earl Swope - receiving care at the Hanover Hospital

We pray for Jim Murphy and his family upon the death of his father—Adrienne Meckley and her family upon the death of her mother, Romaine Hoke— and we

continue to pray for the Huff family upon the death of Harold Huff.

ST. JOHN’S HAPPENINGS

BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER MEETING - Stay Safe. Stay Home. But with technology we can still get together. Join us on Wednesday morning at 10:00am or on Wednesday Evening at 7:00pm for a time of Bible Study and Prayer. We will do this every Wednesday, same link and time, for at least the next five weeks. Please join us via Zoom - call:1-929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 907 836 5134, Password: 407818

WORSHIP @ HOME WITH ST. JOHN’S EVERY SUNDAY - Reminder: St. John's Lutheran Church will not have regular service in the Sanctuary until Sunday, May 3rd. Join us on facebook live @ https://www.facebook.com/St.JohnsAbbottstown/live and YouTube @

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLYusK7PV28KOqSVH6xpbFA or call into our worship at with Zoom by clicking the link

https://zoom.us/j/9078365134?pwd=OEE2K002VkY4b0JCeWx5T2U3YmRRQT09

or by dialing +1 929-205-6099. Use the Meeting ID #: 907 836 5134, Password: 407818 After each worship service on ZOOM, Pastor Shawn will host a time to connect and share.

OFFERING: MONTHLY SPECIAL DESIGNATION - During the month of May, the special designation on your envelope will go to the Confirmation Camp. It is our hope that gifts designated to the Special Designation in May go above and beyond someone’s regular giving to the general fund.

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ONLINE GIVING AT ST. JOHN’S - Don’t carry cash or checks? Still want to give to the ministry and mission of the church? Click on the QR Code and help us grow in our giving by making an online gift. You will have the

option to make a one time donation or a recurring donation. This website is easy, quick and very secure. Thank you for your support!

ST. JOHN’S MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY - The directories have been received. However, we are unable to mail them due to the spiral binding. We will have them available after worship once we resume Services at the church. If you’d like to stop by and pick yours up, please let us know when you are coming and we’ll place it in the big mailbox on the office porch. In the meantime, the link to the directory has been sent to all members with email. Please be sure not to share this information with anyone who is not a member of our

congregation. Thank you and Enjoy!

On April 1st, 47 families were served at the East Berlin Pantry; which included a total of 133 individuals and on April 2nd,

21 families were served at the Abbottstown Pantry. Just a reminder that the mobile food pantries for East Berlin and Abbottstown will again be a curbside pickup of a box of food. East Berlin hours will be 3pm-5pm on May 6th and Abbottstown from 3pm-4pm on May 7th. We will only need 8 volunteers or less for each location.

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REMEMBERING IN PRAYER:

Earl Altland, Deb Keeney, Stacey Riggs, Kevin Shearer, Shirley Crawford, Thomas Niedererr, Dorothy Jean Jeffcoat, Joe Heltzer, Georgia Weibley (sister of Roy Slothour), Kris Spangler, Amy Ogurcak, Robin Talbott, Janet Heflin, Greg Adams, Brenda Shue, Mike Botterbush (brother of Eunice Mentzer), Rodger Laughman, Dorothy Ann Lightner (sister of Jared Tyson), Nick Staub (brother-in-law of

Bonnie Staub), Virginia Houpt (sister of Mary Fogle), Marsellin Deseagnes, Shirley Drummond (sister of Joan & Gary Slonaker), Hayley Thompson (granddaughter of Mary Fogle), Larry Brown, Sandra Witt, Annie Sharrer, Daylin Bennet, Robert Myers (brother-in-law of Lisa Neiderer), Adam Jones, Betty Sharrer, Frank George, the family of Charlene Atha, David Trent, Carmen Miranda, Estella Goodall, Lois Martoranna, Josiah Snyder, John Jeffcoat, George Slothour, Mary Lawrence, Lisa Hart, Carl & Donna Gentel, Cheri Yost, Ryan Laughman, Nancy Zavilla, Donald Ruth, Randy Ruth, Craig Miller, Lisa Berwager, Dot Bonebrake, Renee Noble, Rollande Deseagnes, Myra Miller, Leslie Passalacqun, Jim Leonard, Bill Haverstick, Eunice Mentzer and Earl Swope.

Anthony Staub May 1

Marlee Brown May 2

Gwen Harman May 3

Renee Noble May 3

Lisa Wildasin May 3

Robert Emig May 5

Nora Shively May 6

Gary Slonaker May 8

Rachel Berkebile May 9

Owen Lewis May 9

Richard Staub III May 10

Colin Kirchner May 10

Stephanie Emig May 11

Dawn Crawford May 13

Adelyn Laughman May 13

Kylie Slothour May 13

Dorothy Bonebrake May 14

Thomas Baker May 15

Charles Gabrielson May 15

Linda Meckley May 15

Cole Burchette May 17

Donna Martin May 17

Kimberly Arthur May 18

Carlotta Grim May 18

Eric Gruver May 18

Paris Mathias May 18

Sean Colgan May 19

Cailyn Miller May 24

Daniel Wildasin May 24

Janice Brady May 25

Linda Hoff May 25

Deborah Smith May 25

Heyla Martin May 26

Kerri Musselman May 26

Noah McEvers May 27

Robert Meckley May 27

Zachery Musselman May 27

Scott Wilt May 28

Chelsey Wentland May 30

*Denotes Homebound Member