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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Welcome, thank you so much for visiting St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Berrysburg, PA – the historic Hill Church. Founded in 1780, ours is a congregational family with a deep and rich heritage that informs out efforts to reach out to our present-day community – near and far – with the Gospel of Jesus. In my years of service here, I have come to see that we are a congregational family that defies easy description. We have the warmth and intimacy of a small congregation, while also being blessed with an extraordinary body of committed and gifted believers that allows us to do many of the ministries of a large congregation. We hope that you will visit often – here, from the comfort of your computer or smart phone or other electronic device, but also in person. Whether you are seeking a family of believers with which to join in serving God, or just stopping to take in the view, we would love to welcome you in person to “The Hill”! |
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Current Schedule
Come visit us every Sunday!
9:00am – In person: Adult Sunday Study, SONday Celebration with Miss Laurie,
Confirmation Class, Youth Faith Formation with Matt and Olivia
10:15am - Worship (In-Person & On Zoom)
9:00am – In person: Adult Sunday Study, SONday Celebration with Miss Laurie,
Confirmation Class, Youth Faith Formation with Matt and Olivia
10:15am - Worship (In-Person & On Zoom)
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St. John Zoom Information
Find out how to access our Sunday Zoom Services |
Message from Pastor Katrina
I tried to make a shrimp bowl. Not something to eat, but an actual micro-ecosystem, complete with aquatic plants, rocks, and neocaridina shrimp. It was going great, until it wasn’t. Within two weeks, I had failed. Thirty dead shrimp, melted plants, and a smell in the living room that you’d swear meant I was living down by the docks. Creator of worlds, I am not.
My first foray into being a shrimp hobbyist was a lesson learned in humble patience. My fatal (literally for the shrimp and plants) mistake was that I didn’t allow enough time for the roots to take hold in the substrate and for the plants to filter the water. I rushed the process, so excited was I to watch the little shrimpsies toodle around with their thousand little legs that I didn’t give the acclamation and transition process enough time. Ironic, isn't it? Here’s what I learned from this first attempt - creation of a new thing cannot be rushed. It will take its time, because it is a living thing, too. Doing something new is as much about curiosity and effort and failure and trying and learning as it is about going from concept to established, thriving new world in the blink of an eye. I paid for my impatience, and the whole thing went belly up (again, poor shrimp. RIP). Lent refuses to be rushed. It requires a kind of patience that is filled with hopeful curiosity at first - ashes, new songs, purple color. Before it can really root in, we have a tendency to push past it to get to Easter, sometimes so much so that even Holy Week can seem like a welcome new destination. Rushing it is to our very real detriment. Patience is both a life skill and a faith skill that, to do well, requires practice. It’s not the discipline we most closely associate with this season, but there it is. It starts with an affirmation, that we are dust, finite, and that is not a problem to be solved or avoided. We are very human, and that is a gift. Then we settle into Jesus presence through some pretty deep revelations he shares. The big stuff of living and dying. The pain of being at odds with others. The loss of beloved ones. The grief of losing. Those messages are weighty, important, but let’s face it, also somber. And that’s a tone that’s difficult for folks. I know plenty of people who avoid this season altogether. This season also mirrors the transition time between a former pastor’s leave-taking and a new pastor’s call. There comes a time when the healing space that allowed for a few deep breaths through the loss moves into the energy of the start of the call process. The Call Committee is installed. A different kind of energy is injected into the community. Anticipation and fear, hope and curiosity, the new being so much closer than ever before. It’s hard to be patient and allow the possibilities to take root when the destination of new life finally feels so close. “Be still and know that I am God” the psalmist writes (Psalm 46:10). God’s telling us “be still and I will reveal.” That’s the thing with a season of intentional patience practicing. It’s not that the feeling of impatience and expectation is bad. It’s very human, very normal. It’s just our knee-jerk reaction to rushing ahead. And when we do that, we miss the tiny, compounding, quiet revelations God daily provides. Being a community of faith means that we need time to gather together, to share and collect up those revelations, those God whispers, those faith moments we’ve individually had with God, and start to see a bigger picture for this faith community. You’re not passively waiting. You’re actively revealing the direction God is guiding you toward. How still can we get, beloved community? What do anxious souls need to hear to be soothed? How can we train our tolerance levels a bit more to be patient through God’s revelation process? What does it mean for new life to know that it is God who is setting the timeframe, God who is providing the energy, God who is calling into focus, God who is the creator of all our new worlds? Be still. God reveals. Welcome to Lent. PK |
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Elizabethville Area 2026 Midweek Lenten Services
Many of us give up certain things for the forty days of Lent, and doing so can be a very beneficial thing for us. This year’s Lenten series, Giving It Up. takes that idea one step further by focusing on things that God wants us to give up, not just for forty days, but forever. For each service, a light meal will be served at 6:00pm, with the service beginning at 7pm. (Each church will designate where their offering will go.)
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News from Miss Laurie, Young Christians Minister
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Happy March, everyone! That darned Groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter – and we’ve been getting it! But I’ve got my fingers crossed that March brings us some warmer temperatures as we head towards spring!
Even if it stays cold outside, thaw out on the INSIDE with some “heart warming” Faith Formation! Grab your calendars, and “save these dates” in March:
As we continue on our Lenten journey throughout March, I hope you are drawing closer to God and preparing your hearts for the Good News of Easter! It’s going to be an AWESOME month! See you at the celebrations!! Miss Laurie |
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Our Mission
St. John congregation, responding to the call of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, unites together to preach and teach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God’s mission. With God’s guidance and grace, we strive to boldly proclaim by word and action the reconciling Gospel of Jesus: Working together for justice and peace, and caring for those in need in our community and world. We invite everyone to join us wherever you are on your faith journey. |
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