2022 Newsletters
Winter Newsletter 2022
Pastor’s Corner
“Come and See”
“How good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.” Psalm 133:1,3
Life is all about relationships. We define ourselves by our relationships with one another all the time, to either positive or negative effect. We also all need connections and relationships, even introverts! We need to know how we relate to one another, and it matters to know that someone cares about what happens to us.
As children we learn by watching and listening to those around us. We pick up mannerisms and what to do or not do in any given situation by observing our elders just as effectively as by trial and error. Discipleship and life as followers of Jesus is similar. It is all about the relationship. When people were interested in learning more about him Jesus simply said, “come and see” or “come, follow me.” They then learned who he was, what he stood for, and who they were in relationship to him by what he said and did, and how he treated them. What was unique about Jesus was that he treated his followers (disciples) as apprentices in the task of sharing about God, and as trusted friends.
How do we follow Jesus and walk in his footsteps like the disciples if we can’t time-shift back to Galilee two thousand years ago? Jesus still says, “come and see,” and “come and follow me” to you as well. We become disciples of Jesus by learning more about him through Scripture (reading it ourselves), through talking to him (prayer), talking to other believers (discussions and study), through observing the lives of those who are also his disciples. He calls us to follow and obey, and we can learn to do that by first abiding in him.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:4-11
Here in the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about this need for connection. Just as in friendships or even more importantly in marriage, you must maintain communication and contact to maintain and grow the relationship so that it does not wither away, we are called to maintain our connection to Jesus. If we never check in with our friends, spouse, or children, the relationship suffers. (As an introvert myself, this is something I struggle with and must continuously remember to be intentional about, so I know it isn’t always easy.) Similarly, if we never take time to pray or read scripture, or spend time in worship, our relationship with Jesus also suffers. Is he still there? Will he listen? Yes, he is, and he will. But just as it gets more difficult to pick up the phone or sit down to talk at the table when there has been less communication in a relationship, it gets more difficult on our side to pray or open the scripture when the habit is no longer there. But know this, Jesus wants you to abide in him, and wants to send life into your branch of the vine so that it does not wither or fade. He wants you to blossom and flourish in all of your life, and when you draw life from him, the author of life, that life flows into your other relationships as well.
As we take time this Advent and Christmas to remember that Jesus came as Emmanuel, God with us, remember that he has also promised to come again by his Spirit whenever we ask. I encourage you to refresh your relationships with family and friends near and far, including those in the church family, but also to refresh your relationship with God through Jesus. Invite the presence of God as you gather with your family, and pray for and with one another, lifting up your concerns and asking God’s blessing. Come and see the reminder that God has come to be with us, all our lives long. Come and See. What a difference it makes!
The peace of Christ Jesus be with you this Christmas, and the Blessing of God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, guide and sustain you in the New Year.
Shalom,
Pastor Karis
Studying the Word
Daily Texts 2023 have arrived and are available for families and individuals to have as a gift, to facilitate your daily devotions and take time for the Word each day.
Announcements:
Advent & Christmas
Our Red Cross Christmas Eve service will be on Saturday December 24th at 8pm.
Christmas morning on Sunday we will have a joint service at Red Cross at 9am. Please come and join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus together in Sunday worship with carols.
New Year’s Day also falls on Sunday this year. Let us celebrate the New Year 2023 by giving thanks to the Lord and committing our lives anew! What better way to start the new year than in worship?
Caroling – All singers welcome! Tuesday Dec 20th at Millersburg 1pm. Meet at church at 12:15 to carpool. Thursday Dec 29th at Manor Care, Sunbury at 1:30pm. Meet at church at 12:45pm to carpool.
Catechism Class
Catechism class has resumed. It is open to any middle or high school age individuals who would like to learn more about the faith we profess.
Class meets at 6:00pm every Sunday evening except for special holidays. We will not have class Christmas or New Years Days.
Sunday Bible School - 10:30 am
We are studying the book of Acts with open discussion time. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Congregational Meeting – January 15th 8:30am.
Service Time
There is interest in an alternating rotation of service times between Red Cross and Urban, perhaps monthly. Please consider it and if you have any input or questions, consult a council member.
Snow or sick days? - As a reminder, Sermon videos and Livestreams of Services are available every week on the YouTube channel: Ziranphel. The link is posted each Sunday on our Facebook page. If you are unable to join us in person, please join us online Sunday or later in the week.
Winter Bible Series
Advent through Epiphany
11-27- 2022 – Habakkuk 1:1-7; 2:1-4; 3:3b-6,
3:17-19; Matthew 26:36-39
12-4-2022 – Esther 4:1-17; Matthew 5:13-16
12-11-2022 – Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 12:15-21
12-18-2022 – Matthew 1:18-25; Psalm 23:1-4
12-25-2022 – Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 95: 1-7;
Psalm 96
1-1-2023 – Matthew 1:1-17; Psalm 132:11-12
1-8-2023 – Matthew 3:1-17; Psalm 2:7-8
1-15-2023 - Matthew 4:1-17; Psalm 91:9-12
1-22-2023 – Matthew 5:1-20; Psalm 1:1-3
1-29-2023 – Matthew 6:7-34; Psalm 20:7
2-5-2023 – Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29;
Psalm 37:16-18
2-12-2023 – Matthew 13:24-43; Psalm 84:1-7
2-19-2023 – Matthew 16:24-17:8;
Psalm 41:7-10
2-22-2023 – Matthew 18:1-14; Psalm 146
2-26-2023 – Matthew 18:15-35; Psalm 32
Summer Newsletter 2022
Sunday Morning Service
9:00 am
Pastor’s Corner
“Hope Remains”
A friend of mine came up with this phrase to put on shirts we were designing, to sum up what the White Tree of Gondor represented to us in the Lord of the Rings mythology. It seems so simple, and yet has become my slogan this year. That tree represents hope in the midst of the darkness, and life that would return. Similarly, the cross represents the reason for our hope in the present. Because Jesus went to the cross, died, and rose from the tomb for our sake, we have hope and access to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. (Revelations 22:2)
As many of you know, my beloved brother Timothy, who wrote so eloquently in our winter issue, died during Holy Week. It is difficult to comprehend that loss, and yet this simple phrase has been one that I keep coming back to. In many ways it was fitting to celebrate Tim’s funeral between Good Friday and Easter, because we can point to this…because of Jesus, hope remains.
This is not the end of the story for Tim, who was a wonderful wordsmith. This was the prelude. As wonderful as it was to have him as my brother, we know that hope remains, and we look forward to the rest of eternity of life with the Lord in the new earth. We do grieve now, but as I wrote last time, we do not grieve as ones without hope. We have hope because we have a God who loves each one and loves the world so much that he gave his only son, that we may not be condemned but have everlasting life.
No matter what the struggles you are facing right now, remember that hope remains for you as well. No matter the conflicts, or the state of the world that might bring despair, hope remains. Hope remains because Jesus is the source of life and the word that creates reality. When God speaks, it happens. And so, hope remains, because you have a God who loves you and is for you. Do not abandon hope, but instead seek life. Look to the light and to the truth. As we are reminded in Philippians 4:8-9, we should seek that which is excellent and focus on that, practicing what we have heard. God is one who forgives and reconciles. It is never too late to receive the love of God. Hope remains.
May the God of Peace be with you,
~ Pastor Karis
Studying the Word
That's what we've been doing here at St Peter Lutheran of Red Cross. We've been having a bible study after regular worship, usually around 10:30. It's an adult gathering but teens are welcome as well!
We are just finishing Revelation and getting ready to start Acts. We are very blessed to have Pastor Karis' dad, Paul Hagen, to lead us in this particular study. You see, Acts, and its predecessor Luke, are very dear to Paul's heart. So much so that he has studied both books in depth and has devised a bible study around them. I don't know anything about the study itself, but I know it will be great! I can say this surely, because of studying Revelation with Paul and the others. Revelation is a hard book to get into, but we had some very thought-provoking discussions! We all take turns reading chapters (if you're comfortable with that) and then we simply ... discuss. There is no pressure to glean from the passage a particular lesson. There are some readings that affect each of us in a different way. Questions are always welcome and discussed without judgement. I'll admit, sometimes are discussions get a bit lengthy, but please don't let that deter you from joining us. We try to be conscious of everyone's schedule. And if you need to leave before we finish that's fine too. We are also open to helping anyone who may have a problem or need in their life. We have no problem putting aside our scheduled reading if someone needs to go in a different direction. We really are here for you and each other.
I know it's good to join with others to study the Bible. The Bible even says so. My favorite is Hebrews 10:19-25, check it out. A Bible study also has an atmosphere that fosters learning because we can ask questions and have discussion that isn't possible during a traditional worship service. These studies also help you stay in touch with your Lord and Savior throughout the week. Daily reading isn't a requirement, but it aides in your participation. Since we are called to worship God daily and he seeks to have a personal relationship with him, daily reading truly helps. We learn so much from each other too, that even though we learn as a group it helps us in our personal relationship with God because of what we learn from each other. It's a perfect cycle.
We all look forward to having you join the study group; and since it doesn't start till around 10:30 (or so) you can still come worship even if you over-slept! We even have coffee ;)
In Christ's love,
Jodi Lenker
p.s. have questions, just call 570.758.2428
A Glimpse of Church History
By Dave Hause
To remember our fellow Church Members who went before us, I took a picture of a tombstone in the Church’s cemetery and did some research to share with our members.
Bower Biographies in the History of Northumberland County, PA
Jacob Bower, son of Jacob, was born in Lower Northumberland County, Pa., in 1817, and died near Herndon in 1902 (Sic 1901), aged eighty-four years, nine months. He is buried at Mahanoy Church (St. Peters). He was a farmer in Jackson Township, owning a 200 acre tract on which he lived from 1848. The farm is now owned by Isaac Tressler, a son-in-law. Mr. Bower held local offices and was a prominent citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Haas, died in 1861. They had five children: Cyrus; Wilhelmina, who married Isaac Tressler, a farmer of Jackson Township; Mary, who is unmarried; A. Clinton, of Shamokin; and William F.
The Sunbury Gazette, and Northumberland County Republican
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
20 Sep 1901, Fri • Page 5
HERNDON HAPPENINGS.
Jacob Bower, an old and respected citizen of our township, passed calmly away last week. He died at the ripe old age of 85 years He lingered a long time under the weight of years which bore down on him so heavily, finally causing his death. He owned a fine productive farm on which he resided fifty-one years, raising thousands of bushels of wheat as well as other grain and vegetation. His wife preceded him to the spirit world forty years ago, when he was then in his best years. Two sons and two daughters mourn the loss of a parent. He was well known and will be missed by many as he was very kind to the poor. Internment took place last Sunday at St Peter's cemetery at Mahanoy. His pastor, Rev. A. R. Hottenstein, of the Reformed church, officiated assisted by Rev. Smith, of the Lutheran church.
If you are interested in learning more about Jacob Bower, there are more news snippets from his life on the back table.
Summer Bible Series
6-5-2022 Acts 2:1-21; Philippians 4:4-9
6-12-2022 Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-2; Matthew 22:34-40
6-19-2022 Exodus 20:3-11; Matthew 22:34-40
6-26-2022 Exodus 20:12-16; Matthew 22:34-40
7-3-2022 Exodus 20:17; Matthew 22:34-40
7-10-2022 1 Peter 1:3-25; Matthew 5:11-12
7-17-2022 1 Peter 2:1-9, 19-25; Matthew 16:24-26
7-24-2022 1 Peter 3:13-22; Matthew 5:3-10
7-31-2022 1 Peter 4:1-19; Matthew 5:43-48
8-7-2022 1 Peter 5:1-14; Matthew 20:25-28
8-14-2022 Ruth 1:1-22; Matthew 5:3-9
8-21-2022 Ruth 2:1-23; Luke 6:36-38
8-28-2022 Ruth 3:1-18; Matthew 7:7-8
9-4-2022 Ruth 4:1-22; Luke 1:46-55
9-11-2022 Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17; Matthew 24:36-51
9-18-2022 Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 28:19-20
9-25-2022 Genesis 39:1-23; Matthew 5:11-12
10-2-2022 Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29; Matthew 2:13-15
10-9-2022 Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17; Matthew 5:17-20
10-16-2022 Joshua 24:1-26; Matthew 4:8-10
10-23-2022 1 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-27; 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-17; Matthew 21:33-46
10-30-2022 1 Kings 3:3-28; Matthew 6:9-10
11-6-2022 2 Kings 5:1-15a; Matthew 8:2-3
11-6-2022 Micah 1:3-5; 5:2-5a; 6:6-8; Matthew 9:9-13
11-20- 2022 Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7; then 2:1-5; Matthew 5:14
St Peter
Lutheran Church
Of Red Cross
Dornsife, PA
Newsletter
Spring 2022
Sunday Morning Service
9:00 am
Pastor’s Corner
Jesus wept. Jesus grieved. He is described as a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. He did not deny pain. Rather, he allowed himself to “feel the depths of grief.” Yet, so often we think that as Christians we shouldn’t ever experience sorrow and grief. Some say that believers are always supposed to be happy, and something is wrong if we don’t have continuous happiness. That is a false understanding of what it means to have “joy in every circumstance.”
If we think that we have to always be happy, the times of sorrow, pain, and loss in our lives catch us up short. The conclusions we then come to are either that something is wrong with us and our faith, or something is wrong with God, and he mustn’t be as good as he says he is. Both of those views are reasons that people occasionally leave the church.
But our God is one who walks with us through our times of struggle and sorrow. Jesus, who is God revealed to us, the expression of God’s very heart to the world, grieved. Why shouldn’t we? It is necessary for our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health not just to allow ourselves to grieve but grieve well.
The season of Lent allows us time as believers to have a time of mourning, to recognize our weaknesses and acknowledge them. Time to recognize what brings us sorrow about our lives or our walk of faith, and ask God for healing. It gives us a whole forty days to reflect not just on the fact that Jesus went to the cross and felt sorrow for our sakes, but also to let ourselves feel the hurts in our own experiences. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus said “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” (Luke 6:21)
There is so much grief surrounding us right now. It may be expressed as anger, denial, or disassociation, but stems out of sorrow. I have encountered many who are grieving in one way or another, both in the community and in our churches. Some of that is both an individual and corporate grief for times past. We miss the way life used to be, whether we are thinking about 2 or 50 years ago, and may grieve the changes in what life looks like now. Some may be grief for broken relationships, loss, or the absence or death of a loved one. Each of these is very real, and there can be emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that accompanies our experience of grief. If we block it off and try not to allow grief, it can build up in hurt that lashes out at ourselves and others in the same way that repressed anger can be harmful.
You have permission to weep. You have permission to cry out to God and ask why. You have permission to bring all your pain and grief and give it to Jesus. To do so doesn’t make it all disappear, but pouring out our hearts to God helps us further that relationship and learn to trust him. Jesus the Good Shepherd walks through the Valleys of the Shadow with us and watches over us, not letting us be overcome completely. We can continue because through him comes Joy in the midst of trials, and we can look forward to the joyful morning of Easter and the dawn of the final resurrection day when all the dead in Christ will be raised and our tears will be wiped away. Jesus is the Life, which means he gives life and joy even in our grief.
When I was in the army, one strength we would frequently talk about and work on was spiritual resiliency. When we know who we are in terms of our relationship with God, and have a good perception of God as loving, forgiving, and life-giving, we have more ability to bounce back when we encounter the pain and hardships of this world. If we only see God as angry and judgmental, we don’t have resiliency and wounds of the spirit compound. Spiritual resiliency is learning to “Seek the Good” and find the things that are positive even when life is difficult. It doesn’t mean ignoring the painful struggles, but not having them as our focus at all times. Seek the good in your relationship. Seek the good in your partner or spouse. Seek the good at your job. Seek the good at church. In other words, seek out what has been and is a blessing to you. It may seem trite, but it does really help to pause and count your blessings. It leads to resiliency, thankfulness, and joy.
Seek the good. Let yourself weep. Sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
The peace of Jesus Christ be with you all.
~ Pastor Karis
A Call to Prayer… Together
By Becky Hagen
Dear fellow members of the Body of Christ,
I want to share with you an experience I had that has helped me on my journey of learning to pray. One day after a church service several years ago, I stopped to talk with a woman who previously had shared with me a situation that needed the Lord’s help and who had asked me to pray. Guiltily I realized that I had completely forgotten until I saw her again! So when I asked her about it and she repeated the need for prayer, I said: “Let me pray for you right now.” Up until then I had not often prayed for others out loud with them. I felt awkward and it seemed my words were wooden and stilted. But when I finished and looked up at her, there were tears streaming down her cheeks! God had met her in her point of need. It was not dependent on my saying it all well, or any feelings I had of my own worth to pray for her. Jesus was faithful to his promise: “Again truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” Matthew 18:19-20
We find Jesus again and again exhorting his disciples to ask, seek and knock for the problems they face and the things they need, for the Father delights to give good gifts to his children! And Jesus tells us in John to ask in his name and the Father would give it to us when it will bring him glory. So I want to encourage you all to pray for one another and with one another! We live in such a broken sinful world and there are many things to pray about! There are sad, sick, lonely, and lost people all around us. There are wars, disasters, and crises on small and large scales. So many things need God’s help and intervention. So let us pray!
Please come and join us as we pray on Wednesday mornings from 9 to 10am in the Sunday School room off the sanctuary. Invite others to come also. Send us your prayer requests if you cannot come in person. If you come to church early on Sunday mornings, Pastor Karis would be happy to pray with you. I will also pray with you if you ask me after church. I am sure any of us Hagens or Ruohoniemis would be happy to pray with you! We have learned that God answers prayer and it is our modus operandi!
As the writer to the Hebrews tells us: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10: 23-25
A glimpse of History
Remembering a couple past members
by Dave Hause
I enjoy doing genealogy and when Pastor Karis asked for contributions for the Spring Newsletter today at our weekly service, as I was leaving the church, I took a photo of the tombstone for Stella and Lloyd Rebuck.
I was able to find Stella and Lloyd Rebuck obituaries for you to read. Some of you might remember these folks, as in Lloyd’s obituary it says he was a member of the council of St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Red Cross.
I for one always think it is important remember our departed friends and family members.
Lloyd and Stella, we remember.
The Daily Item
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
22 Apr 1960, Fri • Page 22
Lloyd A. Rebuck, 53, of Urban, farmer and house painter, died at 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Geisinger Hospital, Danville, from Hodgkin’s Disease. He had under treatment for his ailment for the past five months. Mr. Rebuck, a son of the late Henry and Agnes Hoke Rebuck, had farmed in the Lower Northumberland County area for the past 21 years. He was a member of the council of St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Red Cross and was a member of the Herndon Fire Company. Surviving are his wife, Nee Stella Smeltz; one son, Robert; a daughter, Diane, both at home and four brothers and four sisters as follows: Harry E., James W and George V. Rebuck, all of Dornsife; Charles I., Harrisburg; Mrs. Carrie Walborne, Herndon; Mrs. Lizzie Troutman, Selinsgrove, Mrs. Beulah Foulds, Trevorton and Mrs. Bertha Stetler Buffalo, N.Y.
The News-Item
Shamokin, Pennsylvania
19 May 1976, Wed • Page 2
Mrs. Stella (Smeltz) Rebuck, 67, of Herndon, R.D. 1, died suddenly Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in her home. Born in Rebuck, Jan. 3, 1909, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Rosie (Adams) Smeltz.
Mrs. Rebuck was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd A" Rebuck, who died April 1960. She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Red Cross.
Survivors include one son, Robert, Herndon, R.D. 1, with whom she resided; one daughter, Mrs. Kermit Kahler, Herndon, R.D. 1; three grandchildren; one brother, Raymond, Dornsife, R D; two sisters, Mrs. Paul F. Latshaw, Dornsife, R.D., and Mrs. Paul C. Latsha, Dornsife, R.D.
Announcements:
Prior to services on Sunday mornings, Pastor Karis will be available to talk to parishioners starting at 8:30 am, with a brief prayer time preceding the service at 8:50 am.
Catechism Class
Catechism class has begun with scriptural overview this year and is meeting Sunday evenings at 6:00pm at Red Cross. It is open to any interested children and younger teens. There is also a class after morning worship for older teens and young adults to complete an intensive study of the catechism. If interested in joining please contact Pastor Karis.
Sunday Bible School - 10:30 am
We are studying the book of Revelations with open discussion time. All are welcome and encouraged to attend, from teenagers to adults.
Weekly Prayer—Wednesdays 9am and Sunday 8:50am
Line Mountain Food Bank
Please leave donated items in the vestibule. Thank you for your help. For more information, please contact Diane Kahler, 570-758-4805.
Home Visits
For those who are unable to attend church, if you would like to be visited by Pastor Karis and/or receive communion, please call Pastor Karis to schedule a time. For emergencies of any sort please contact Pastor Karis directly. Calls, texts, messages, emails, or just stopping by to chat are all welcome forms of communication.
Spring Bible Series
2-6-2022 John 4:46-54 [5:1-18]
Psalm 40:1-5
2-13-2022 John 6:35-59
Psalm 34:1-10
2-20-2022 John 7:37-52
Psalm 147:1-11
2-27-2022 John 9:1-41
Psalm 27:1-4
3-2-2022 John 10:1-18
Psalm 23
3-6-2022 John 11:1-44
Psalm 104:27-30
3-13-2022 John 13:1-17
Psalm 51:7-12
3-20-2022 John 18:12-27
Psalm 17:1-7
3-27-2022 John 18:28-40
Psalm 145:1-13
4-3-2022 John 19:1-16a
Psalm 146
4-10-2022 John 12:12-36
Psalm 24
4-15-2022 John 19:16b-42
Psalm 31:9-18
4-17-2022 John 20:1-18
Psalm 118:21-29
4-24-2022 John 20:19-31
Psalm 145:13-21
5-1-2022 Acts 9:1-19a
Matthew 6:24
5-8-2022 Acts 16:16-34
Luke 6:18-19, 22-23
5-15-2022 Acts 17:16-31
John 1:16-18