St. John's United Methodist Church
216 West Seminary Avenue, Lutherville, Maryland 21093
Reverend James (Jay) DeMent, Pastor
Church Office Pastor's Study
410-825-3969 410-825-4840
Pastor's email: pastorjaychris@yahoo.com
Church email: stjohns216@aol.com
Website: www.stjohns-lutherville.org
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
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DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE 2012
This year's Daily Bible Reading Guide, "Uncovering God's Word,"
is only available online. You may visit DailyBible.AmericanBible.org and read
the selection daily or make arrangements to have it sent to you by email.
If you do not have a computer available, we encourage you to find another plan
to read the scriptures daily in order to become closer to the Lord and more
familiar with his word for you in the new year.
Our Lord is always there for us. How much time in our lives are we spending
with and for Him? UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
BAZAAR - Our annual Christmas Bazaar was the most successful in recent years.
Thanks to all those who contributed to make such a nice profit which will go
to outreach projects. Special thanks to the men who helped set up and take down.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the day was working together and greeting the
friends and neighbors who support us each year.
BOW TREE - The UMW appreciates your contributions to the Christmas Bow Tree.
Your gifts will go to support Suzanne Porter, our missionary in Liberia.
WHITE GIFTS - Packages were put by the Christmas tree by the UMW and the Circles.
Recipients include Sue Porter, the Salvation Army and the Advance for Haiti
Recovery.
GENERAL MEETING - There will be no General Meeting in January. In February we
will prepare for Lent at our Pancake Breakfast in the Choir Room on Shrove Tuesday,
February 21, at 10:30 a.m.
THANK BOXES - This annual project will again be due in February. Turn in your money to your Circle Leader or May Price, our treasurer. We will decide at the General Meeting where the money will be sent.
LOOKING AHEAD - Mark your calendars now for World Day of Prayer at Havenwood
Presbyterian Church on March 2.
— Leesa Sipe
DATES TO REMEMBER FOR JANUARY
Monday Jan. 9 7:15 p.m. Esther Circle Michele Sparklin's home
Thursday Jan. 12 12 noon Ruth Circle May Price's home
Ruth Circle will host the 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Coffee Hour.
DATES TO REMEMBER FOR FEBRUARY
Monday Feb. 6 1:00 p.m. Executive Meeting Carol Anders' home
Thursday Feb. 9 12 noon Ruth Circle Church
Monday Feb. 13 7:15 p.m. Esther Circle Chris DeMent's home
Tuesday Feb. 21 10:30 a.m. General Meeting Choir Room
Esther Circle will host the 10:30 a.m. Fellowship Coffee Hour.
MARCH/APRIL NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 3
The next ‘Story' will be the March/April 2012 issue. The deadline will be Friday, February 3. All those who contribute articles will need to plan to submit information for a two month time period.
WHO TO CONTACT?
STAFF
James (Jay) DeMent, Pastor
Church Study, 410-825-4840
Parsonage, 410-321-0617
Sue Todhunter, Organist/Choir Director
Carole Gray, Church Secretary
Church Office, 410-825-3969
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Andy Anders & Ron Dumas, Lay Leaders
Cleo Matthews-Conley, Church Council
Sarah Shane, Church Council Secretary
Hap Cursey, Finance Committee
Stewardship Committee
Sharon Purcell, Board of Trustees
TBA, Staff Parish Relations
Mary Alice Young, (Bldg) Usage Committee
Gerry Kalar, Memorials
Maggie Hediger, Memorials
KEY PERSONS
Freda Harris, Treasurer
Bill Harris, Assistant Treasurer
Maggie Hediger, Financial Secretary
Ron Dumas, Ushers
Susan Dumont, Church School Superintendent
Leesa Sipe, United Methodist Women
Phylicia Conley, Youth Representatives
Pat Owings, Altar Flowers
Gerry Kalar, Day Care/Board of Child Care
Freda Harris, Susanna Wesley House Rep
TBA, Church Historian
Don Owings, Boy Scout Rep
WORK AREA CHAIRS
Pat Owings, Worship
Clara Hall, Education
Membership & Outreach
Carol Anders, Missions
Leesa Sipe, Church and Society
Randy Hall, Religion and Race
Church Council meetings will take place on the third Monday of the month at
7:30 p.m. in the Choir Room.
Church Council minutes are available in the church office or may be sent to
you upon request.
WORSHIP
SCHEDULE
8:15 a.m. Sunday School
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
The altar was beautiful for the Christmas services, with forty-one poinsettias
of various colors. Many thanks to all who ordered flowers in honor or in memory
of loved ones.
On December 18, the combined choirs of Idlewylde and St. John's U.M.C.'s presented
"By Heaven's Light: A Christmas Cantata". Many, many thanks to:
• Sue Todhunter, Director/Accompanist
• Jim Todhunter, Director
• their nephew Jeff, on the wind chimes and page turner
• Cleo Matthews-Conley and Jay Dement, readers
• and the choir members of both churches.
Everyone worked very hard to ensure that the cantata was enjoyable and meaningful for all!
The luncheon which followed was delicious! A big thank you to those whose efforts made it possible!
Lastly, thanks to the congregation for being an important part of the celebration.
And now a New Year has arrived!
• On Sunday, January 1st, 9:30 a.m., the congregation is invited to
bring bells to ring during the worship service.
• A pulpit exchange is scheduled for January 22.
• Ash Wednesday is February 22, with Lent beginning on February 26.
• Scout Sunday will be celebrated on February 26.
Watch the bulletins for further information regarding January and February activities.
– Pat Owings for the Work Area on Worship
NEXT WORSHIP MEETING - The next meeting of the Work Area on Worship will be
Monday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pastor's Study.
PLEASE NOTE: After this issue, we will no longer mail a paper copy of the "Story"
except to out of town or homebound people. The newsletter is available on our
website at www.stjohns-lutherville.org or you may receive it by email.
If you wish to continue to have us mail your issue, please notify the church
office by phone or note. If you wish to receive the "Story" by email,
please send us an email to alert us.
For active members, you will find your newsletter on a table between Fellowship
Hall and the Sanctuary.
MEMBER NEWS
THANK YOU - Greetings to everyone at St. John's,
Thank you for all the Christmas cards and phone calls. Each card brought back
so many fond memories of my many years at St. John's. I will never forget all
the friendship, fun and hard work we shared on so many church dinners and other
affairs. I send you all best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Love,
Doris Wells
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Dear Members of St. John's,
I want to thank all of you for your get well wishes and your prayers for me
during the operation on my hip and my recovery which is progressing very well.
Your concern and love for me really shows how important it is to have friends.
Just knowing you were there for me raised my spirits and comforted me. God has
truly blessed me.
I appreciated the help Barb and Ron Dumas gave us at our home. Pastor Jay was
at my side when I needed him before and after my surgery. His prayers encouraged
and strengthened me. Another special person helping in my recovery was Sharon
Purcell, who gave of her time and energy to do so many generous things that
Randy and I couldn't have done alone. She demonstrated to me what it means to
truly be a Christian.
God bless you all,
Clara Hall
SYMPATHY - St. John's congregation would like to express our sympathy and ask for the Lord's comfort and strength for
the family of Ann R. Shultz, a former member, who died on December 5
Mary Alice Young and the Reichert family at the death of their aunt, Sister
Ignatius Loyola Reichert, on December 5
OUR CHURCH ACTIVITIES
CHURCH ACTIVITIES - All members and friends of St. John's and our sister church, Idlewylde, are invited to join us for all events featured in the ‘St. John's Story'.
SUNDAY SCHOOL - Sunday School is meeting again at 8:15 a.m. with classes for all ages.
PARISH NURSE - Blood pressure screening is available, if requested, after church services. Please contact Linda Krom at 410-296-8277.
SOUP & SALVATION - This small group meets on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. in the Choir Room. Join us for a lunch of soup, bread, dessert and beverage, fellowship and spiritual enrichment.
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY - The Men's Bible Study meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Idlewylde United Methodist Church. This group is led by Pastor Jay.
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY - The Women's Bible Study meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. at Idlewylde United Methodist Church. This group is led by Chris DeMent.
SIP BOOK CLUB - The Seeking Inner Peace Book Club - The group meets regularly
and discusses a book we have read. Our next meeting will be Monday, January
23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Parsonage. This month's book is The Glass Castle by Jeannette
Walls.
In February we will meet on the 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the Parsonage. This month's
selection is Cutting for Stones by Abraham Verghese.
ATTENDANCE
October Total
30 42
November
6 43
13 50
20 45
27 50
December
4 50
11 45
18 108
24 61
25 22
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
In every season, it is always nice to be remembered! Your card, note, visit,
or phone call to one of our family members at home is always appreciated. If
you would like to have your name included on our Keep-In-Touch page, just call
the Church Office.
January Birthdays
Pat Temple 1/19
Lil Creech 1/20
Henry Smith (5/9)
Pat Temple (1/19)
Doris Wells (10/15)
St. John's
Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were filled with family, friends and memorable times!
To begin, I'd like to extend my gratitude to the St. John's Choir for their beautiful music during the Advent and Christmas seasons and, in particular, for their commitment and time in preparing and presenting the cantata with the Idlewylde Choir! In addition, a special thanks goes to all who helped with the luncheon following the cantata by setting up the tables, making the punch and coffee, bringing food to share and cleaning up! Sharing a meal and fellowship was a wonderful way to conclude our worship on December 18th.
Looking ahead, the Choir will be singing some NEW music during the next few months. If you like what you hear, please let the Choir know; if you do not like what you hear, please let me know!
Let us make a joyful noise!
Sue T
MISSION NEWS
St. John's Mission Statement
The people of St. John's United Methodist Church will be God's messengers, creatively sharing our Christian faith and God's love by our actions in the home, church, community and world.
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St. John's is collecting labels for Red Bird Mission. They may be put in the
box on the kitchen counter. Please give the entire label. Following is a list
of included products – details will be posted in the kitchen.
Campbell's Swanson
Franco-American Prego
Pepperidge Farm V-8 (cap)
Also save "Labels for Education" from Betty Crocker, etc.
ACTC
Assistance Center of Towson Churches
Food Donation for January & February
Cereal and Pasta Meals
Missions News
Manna House
This is an opportunity to offer assistance and support to the homeless, poor and needy of Baltimore. Manna House provides services that contribute towards their clients' independence and stability.
If you are interested in helping here is the scoop: We select a date, usually on a monthly basis, meet at St. John's and drive to Manna House. We work from 9:30 to Noon, in groups of about 3 to 5 people and sort clothing for distribution to the poor and needy. There is no contact with the clients and parking is available on their parking lot. The date will to be determined by the group so if you would like to volunteer please talk with either Jay or Carol Anders.
Committee News
Polar bear finger puppets attached to candy canes with a note "Blessing to You from the St. John's Church Family" were given to each child at the Lot's of Love Daycare. Each of the Day Care staff were given a candy cane. Thank you to the Mission Committee members for assembling these gifts.
The Mission Committee has been working hard to come up with a Vision Statement that adequately reflect's what we do at St. John's. We came up with six suggestions, which will be presented at the January Administrative Council meeting.
We are planning a Mission Day Luncheon Workshop on Sunday, January 29th from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. to assemble Valentines gifts and play some games. We will be having soup, rolls and desserts for lunch. If you would like to help by bringing one of these items, please sign up on the sheet that is posted on the bulletin board outside of Fellowship Hall. Mark this date on your calendar now and sign up to bring a lunch item.
RELIGION & RACE
The Problem with Social Security
My father was a college professor and because of recurring illness, he received
an extremely small pension. He relied heavily on Social Security for most of
his living expenses after retiring. The vast majority of Americans found their
savings wiped out in the Great Depression. Social Security was designed to provide
a floor of protection, and most pension plans or other retirement arrangements
failed to provide significant income until later in the 20th century.
Social Security was not a "Ponzi scheme." Each person's benefits were put aside in trust in what was described as a "lock box" which included the employee's own contributions matched by the employer.
The plan was broadened to include survival, disability, and Medicare benefits. Problems only arose later because of the astronomical cost of our many wars – World War II, Korean, Viet Nam, Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the "War on Terror." The aging of our population and mathematical miscalculations on the cost of disability and Medicare compounded the problem. Instead of raising taxes to pay for the ballooning debt (which was unpopular politically), the federal government took the money from the trust fund. Some would say "stole it." Administrations, both Democratic and Republican, took part in the "raid."
We are now in crisis mode and need to fix the problem. African-Americans are disproportionately dependent on Social Security. Most recipients are opposed to privatizing Social Security, but we realize something has to be done. I really think a majority of seniors would be willing to accept somewhat lower benefits if other segments of our population also accept sacrifices. Compromise should be the order of the day.
Randy Hall