“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”   (1Cor 1:3)

   We have entered the season of Pentecost, which is also called ordinary time.  But God’s people and God’s creation is anything but ordinary, in fact it is extraordinary!    The summer is filled with opportunities to rejoice and celebrate what God has placed in our lives.  Whether you enjoy picnics with family and friends, walks on the beach, the cool mountain air, the sweet taste of ice cream on a hot day, or simply the smell of blooming flowers, we find God at work in the world around us!   In the coming weeks, we’ll be exploring who God is calling us to be as the church and the ways in which we can respond to that call to serve our neighbors.   This sermon series fits closely with the gospel lessons from Luke as we explore the ways that Jesus set the example and directed the disciples to be the church!     Our summer at St. John’s is also filled with many great activities! In June, the Synod Assembly will re-elect a new bishop for our Synod.  We will celebrate Pastor Jon Fenton’s 45th year of ordination, and the Woman of the ELCA group will be hosting a picnic full of fellowship and delicious foods!  July has lots of activity for children as several of our youth head off to Washington, DC on a mission trip and our Vacation Bible School will begin the last week in July.  Lots of great opportunities to be a part of what God is doing in our community and in the world!   

 We continue to work through the details of leasing space to the Upper Susquehanna Synod.  This does however include cleaning out and rearranging things throughout the building and we could use some help.  If you can help in any way, please contact the church office.    My prayer for all is for a blessed summer!  That we take time to experience God in all that we do.  And that God opens our hearts to consider where God is leading the people of St. John’s.   

Blessings,

Pastor Karla