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”!
Current Schedule
Come visit us every Sunday!
9:00am - Faith Formation Activities for All Ages
10:15am- Worship (In Person or Via Zoom)
Congregation YouTube Page
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St. John's YouTube Channel
Social Media
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/stjohnhillchurch
St. John Zoom Information
Find out how to access our Sunday Zoom Services
Sunday Worship Materials
Download the Sunday Celebrate, Bulletin and Bible Study Materials
Prayer for a Pandemic: by Cameron Bellm
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving
their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our
children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot
physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving
embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.

Pastor's Letter - December/January

As I write these lines in mid-November, it looks like all of the pieces are coming together to allow us to return to our more familiar Sunday morning schedule of 9:00 A.M. Faith Formation Time (Sunday School) and 10:15 A.M. Worship, beginning on November 29, the First Sunday of Advent.  For Faith Formation Time, this really just represents a change of time, from our current 9:45 to our “tried and true” 9:00.  But for Worship, this will mean several substantive changes in how we have recently been doing things.  First of all, we will be discontinuing our 8:30 Zoom-only worship because, second of all, we will all be able to come together to our 10:15 worship, either by being at the church in-person or by logging in/calling in via the Zoom platform: 
  • For those attending 10:15 worship in-person, our ushers will still be guiding everyone to safely spaced, designated seating, and masks, covering both nose and mouth at all times, will still be required of everyone, with no exceptions of any kind.  Since our safe seating plan can accommodate approximately 65-70 people, and since thus far our in-person attendance has been averaging only in the upper-20’s, there should continue to be adequate seating for all at 10:15.
  • For those attending 10:15 worship via Zoom, the call in/log in process will still work exactly the same but when Zoom opens up, instead of showing Miss Laurie and Judy and me in our living rooms, your screen will include rectangles showing two views of worship at the church – one a close-up of the lectern area from where I am currently leading worship and the other which will alternate between showing Judy and our other keyboardists at the organ and showing an overall view of worship from the balcony area.  To avoid possible interference with the flow of worship coming from the church, all Zoom participants will find that their mikes will need to be muted at all times, but the chat function will continue just like before, allowing Zoomers to continue to directly connect.

Whether you are present at 10:15 in-person or via Zoom, Council’s and my goal is to have worship be a seamless experience for you, allowing you to continue to have a blessed worship experience in the way that seems safest and best for you as we go forward together.  We will in no way be back to “normal” on November 29, but it represents one more hopeful and prayerful step along the winding road leading in that direction.  A big “Thank You” is due to our overall Zoom coordinators, Roy & Rachel Henry, as well as the folks who have stepped up to help Rachel and Roy with Zoom hosting, as a part of our new Video Ministry Team!

Speaking of worship as December begins of course brings up thoughts of Christmas Eve worship.  As I write these lines, Miss Laurie, Worship & Music Committee, Congregational Council, and I are still figuring out how we might best worship both safely and meaningfully on this important day.  I feel confident that Christmas Eve will continue to include more than one time of worship to suit different schedules and that there will be both in-person/candle lighting and Zoom opportunities, subject of course, to developments with regard to the virus.  Please stay tuned for those details – and please feel free to share your ideas with me.

I am anticipating that our Winter Midweek Bible Study will get underway on Wednesday, January 6 (the festival day of Epiphany), from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. again via Zoom, but I am still working out the details, including what the coming of the Season of  Lent will mean for Wednesdays in general and Bible Study in particular in 2021.  Here again, please stay tuned for details as we get closer to time, but feel free to sign up with me at any time.

As the past almost nine months have held tumult and change such as most of us have never before experienced, I have been finding deep hope and assurance in the steady turning of the Church Year, reminding me and you that the followers of Jesus have experienced challenges like ours and many, many much more trying times over the past almost-2,000 years.  But, led by the Holy Spirit, the worship calendar has continued to turn and our ancestors in the faith have endured, as shall we.  As we again enter into this holy time of the Church Year, reminded once again of just how very much God loves you and me and all that God has made, I want to thank you, my sisters and brothers in this wonderful congregational family, for another year of productive and faithful – even if much changed and adapted – ministry together.  Ann and I wish and pray for each of you a most blessed Advent and Christmas celebration and many joyous new beginnings in the year 2021 to come!            

Pastor Tom

News from Miss Laurie, Young Christians Minister

It’s beginning to look (and feel – brrrrr) a lot like Christmas!!  This year, with the uncertainty brought on by COVID, Christmas is SURELY going to be different.  But that just means we need to be creative when we’re looking for ways to bring out the “merry”!

One event we’re planning to get you in the Christmas spirit, is an Advent “Zoom-ebrattion”!!  On Sunday, December 13th at 6:00 pm, join us on Zoom for an evening of music, fellowship, and fun!  Pastor Tom and I will send out a link to join the meeting in our weekly emails!  Come and celebrate the season with us – and do it safely and comfortably from your own homes! 

In addition to the Advent “Zoom-ebration”, we’re going to do our 4:00 Christmas Eve “Celebration” Service on Zoom as well.  Pastor Tom and I will send out the link to join.  Plan to tune in to this contemporary Christmas service and prepare your hearts for the coming of Jesus!

And mark your calendars for these additional Christmas activities:
  • Wednesday, December 2nd at 6:30 – It’s our Celebration Club “Jingle for Jesus” Party!
  • Sunday, December 20th at 9:00 am – We’re having a SONday Celebration Christmas Party!
  • Sunday, December 27th at 9:00 am – It’s our congregational “Happy Birthday Jesus” party!  EVERYONE is invited!!

And looking ahead to NEXT year:
  • Wednesday, January 6, 2021 – It’s the first Celebration Club of the New Year!  Join us at 6:30 as we “deny thy selfie”! 

(All of the above are scheduled as “in-person” activities.  If things change and we are unable to meet at church, these events will take place on Zoom!!  I’ll keep you posted on the status of all our activities in my weekly emails!)

Even though this may be a very different holiday for us, if we set our hearts and minds on the “reason for the season”, this Christmas will still be filled with joy.   Let’s celebrate the season and focus on JESUS – the light of the world who will lead us out of the darkness!!  And let’s look toward a safe and COVID-free 2021!!!

Wishing you all a very MERRY and BLESSED Christmas and a HAPPY and HEALTHY New Year!!

Miss Laurie
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.