Lose It For Life
January 11, 2010 - March 29, 2010,  6:45 pm - 8:45 pm

The Lose It For Life class, a total solution (spiritual, emotional, physical) for permanent weight loss by Steve Arterburn, will be offered.  Beginning Monday, January 11^th, a 16-week weight loss class will be held from 6:45 pm to 8:45 pm.  The class will be led by an instructor who personally attended the Steve Arterburn workshop and has led many of her own sessions in the past.  The class is limited to 20 people.  The cost is $80 for 16 weeks (that's only $5 per week), but the money is due before the class starts.  A hardcover book and workbook are included in the fee.  There will be weekly homework and a daily journal must be kept.  If you are interested in attending, contact Nancy Brumbach @ ext. 34 or Lori Carnes (see e-mail under Church Leaders).

New Member Classes
February 21 - March 14, 2010, 9:15 - 10:15 am

New Member Classes will begin in February 21^st.  St. John’s offers a four-session class held in the Fellowship Hall during the Sunday School hour (9:15 to 10:15 am).  Each Sunday a part of Luther’s Small Catechism will be presented (The Ten Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Communion).  Seminarian Eric Moser and Sister Millicent Drake will lead the classes.  There is an orientation to St. John’s and opportunities to participate.  If you are interested in joining our church family, please come.  If you know of someone that may be interested, invite them.  If you have any questions or concerns, contact Nancy Brumbach at 610.369.1024 (extension 34).

Lenten "Souper" Suppers

Wednesdays during Lent (beginning on February 24 ending March 31) soup and sandwiches will be served.

Here is the schedule:
February 17 – Ash Wednesday – NO soup & sandwich
February 24 – Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall
March 3 – Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall
March 10 – Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall
March 17 – Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall
March 24 – Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall
March 31 – Holy Week - Soup & sandwich served @ 11:30 AM & 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall

Bring your family, neighbors, friends, and plan to stay for our worship service at 1 pm in the Chapel & at 7 pm in the Sanctuary (Feb. 17 thru March 31).

No reservation required and it’s “free”. Come and enjoy food and fellowship with your old friends and make some new ones.

We will offer a large variety of soups (at least 3 kinds) and 2 or 3 kinds of sandwiches. There will be hot dogs and peanut butter & jelly for the kids. Other hot sandwiches may include open-faced turkey with gravy or hamburger bar-b-que.

Hope to see you there!

Bread, Bowl and Bible
March 7 - 21 at 4:00 pm

Join us for the Oley Lutheran Cluster's Bread, Bowl and Bible on three Sunday evenings, March 7, 14 & 21 at 4 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1749 S. Main St., Bechtelsville.  People of Faith is the theme and Seminarians Kathryn Irwin and her husband Carmine Pernini will be the leaders as we look at six Biblical characters.  We begin at 4 pm, pause for a simple soup and bread supper at 5 pm, and begin our second session at 6 pm.

Spring Fling Covered Dish
March 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm

Come join our Spring Fling Covered Dish event - in place of the Valentine's Dinner that was cancelled due to snow.  Please come out Friday, March 12 at 6:30 pm for our event.  All are welcome - couples and singles!  Free child care and a pizza party will be provided in the Nursery during the event.  We will play the Newlywed game, so come out and enjoy the fun.  A sign-up sheet is posted in the Parish House hallway for children and adults attending.

Puppets of Praise Concert
March 27, 2010 at 7:10 pm

If you ever wondered if there was any other way to worship and honor God, then come out to the Puppets of Praise concert to see how music and puppets can show you another way to worship God.  The concert is on Saturday, March 27 after the Saturday @ 6 Service - approximately 7:10 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  This is a nice way to start off Holy Week.

We will also enjoy a time of fellowship and goodies afterwards.  Please join us for fun and fellowship.

“A Journey Through Holy Week”
On Palm Sunday Evening, March 28, 6-8 pm

Our TGIF youth and adult volunteers will guide you on this spiritual journey through Holy Week.

This event is open to adults and youth from 6th grade on up.
NOTICE: This event requires some physical activity that may be too challenging for some people. 

* Have you ever wondered or tried to imagine what it must have been like for Jesus on the last days of His time here on earth? 
* How could we understand the pain and humiliation He endured? 
* Do we fully appreciate the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for us all?

This is exactly the purpose in recreating (as best we can) the last days of Jesus’ life.  The “walk” begins in the Youth Room with some brief instruction.  The group is then blindfolded and led out to first experience Palm Sunday’s celebration and festivities.  Then we proceed to Maundy Thursday’s Last Supper along with Jesus’ example of servitude - washing of feet.  Jesus is betrayed, He is then put on trial, led to the place called Golgotha, crucified and there He gave up His life.  Each experience, from the joyful entry into Jerusalem to His burial, is designed to capture the five senses in an attempt to understand a little better the painful reality of Our Lord’s last days.

We will not be hosting “Walk to Calvary” during Holy Week this year.

Spring Retreat
April 16 - 18, 2010
Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center

Please come join us for our annual Spring Retreat at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center.  The retreat will take place Friday, April 16^th through Sunday, April 18^th.  We will be leaving the parking lot at 6 pm on Friday and returning around 3 pm on Sunday.  Our adult session leader this year is Scott Staub.  We will also have a teen session led by Kristen Engle and an elementary session led by Amanda Burger and Chadder the Chipmunk! 

Let this weekend help you and your family grow closer by learning along side your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  The weekend includes 5 family style meals and two nights lodging for only $60 per adult.  Children under 18 are free.  We have plenty of free time worked into the schedule when you can kick back and relax, play games in the chapel or join the organized bingo game!  You can also enjoy outdoor volleyball and shuffle board.  Plenty of activities for everyone. 

A sign-up sheet will be placed in the Parish House on the bulletin board outside Sister Millicent’s office.  If you have any questions please contact Noelle Dierolf at 610.369.0254 or Wellie72@comcast.net

Family Life's Weekend to Remember
Skytop Lodge, April 9-11

Married and pre-married couples
…. Are you ready to strengthen your relationship?

The Weekend to Remember Conference is a marriage conference using biblical research and real-life experiences, presented by dynamic speakers who use these resources to provide ways to improve your relationship.  From the first night, when the speakers discuss the five threats to “oneness”, through date night on Saturday night, to the final session on Sunday titled “Leaving a Legacy,” the weekend is devoted to providing you with opportunity to focus on and build a stronger, biblically sound relationship.

The Group Coordinators for this year’s conference are Stan and Michelle Weller. This year the Conference will be held at the Pocono’s Skytop Lodge on April 23 through April 25.  The room rates at the Skytop Lodge are $159.00 per night.  There will be some funds available through the Leaver Fund. Discounts will not be available until we have an accurate account of how many are going.  For additional information, feel free to contact Stan or Michelle at 610.754.8667 or at sweller40@dejazzd.com or mweller16@dejazzd.com.

Hand-in-Hand and Leaver will be paying the registration fee ($179) for all couples.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS FEB. 26^th.
So, are you ready for a weekend to remember?

Girls' Night Out
May 7, 2010

Friday May 7th - Girls’ Night Out hosted by Fellowship Committee.  More details when available.

Annual Church Picnic
June 19, 2010

Saturday June 19th - 4th Annual Church Picnic at new location: Boyertown Park.  More details to follow.

CREATION 2010
Northeast Creation Fest 2010
June 30 to July 3
Agape Farm – Mt. Union, PA

The Creation Festival is all about changing lives and glorifying our Creator.  Our prayer for Creation 2010 is that people will be changed, restored, and challenged to serve the Lord and to make a difference in the world.

As the nation's largest Christian music festival, Creation offers jam packed days filled with top musical artists, kids' activities, worship tent and more. However, the Creation Festival is about much more than music.  Creation is also about honoring the Word of God through our speakers and seminars.
Copied from www.creationfest.com

We have purchased 20 tickets at a discounted price.  Each ticket costs $105.  This includes a $15 fee for hot showers.  The cost of a ticket is $40 per person (cost is subsidized by funds raised during fundraising events).  However, each ticket holder is asked to participate in our future fundraisers to help offset the total amount.

Registration deadline is Saturday, May 1.  A $20 non-refundable deposit is due at that time.  Contact Donna Smith at 610.369.1024.

Any youth entering eighth grade in 2010 is eligible for this event. Youth/children younger than eighth grade must be accompanied by an adult.

Come join us for this amazing 4-day event.

Women of Faith Conference in Philadelphia
September 11, 2010

Mark your calendar for this event.  More details will be available later.

Adult Fall Retreat
November 12-14 at Tuscarora Inn

Please mark your calendars.  More information will be available later.