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
Current Schedule
Come visit us every Sunday!
9:00am - Faith Formation Times for All Ages (In-Person)
10:15am Worship, Including Celebration Time with Miss Laurie
for our Youngest In-Person Worshipers (In-Person & On Zoom)
Come visit us every Sunday!
9:00am - Faith Formation Times for All Ages (In-Person)
10:15am Worship, Including Celebration Time with Miss Laurie
for our Youngest In-Person Worshipers (In-Person & On Zoom)
St. John Zoom Information
Find out how to access our Sunday Zoom Services |
Pastor's Letter - April 2024
Dear Friends in Jesus,
If you are reading this letter after Easter Day, March 31, and you happen to take a look around you, you will pretty quickly be tempted to conclude that Easter has come and gone – the bunnies and eggs and all the rest will have been quickly put away in favor of the next big thing on the calendar – perhaps the patriotic display leading into Memorial Day and the beginning of the summer travel season. It's how our secular, consumer driven, calendar works, after all. But it is definitely not how our liturgical, Jesus-centered, calendar works. And it is to that calendar that I want to encourage you to pay attention... You see, for Christians, Easter – the cosmos-changing news that Jesus has overcome sin and death and the grave – is simply way too big to be covered in one quick day. And so, for many centuries now, Christians have very wisely set aside not just one day... not just several days... not just a week... but actually a “week of weeks” - 7 weeks plus one day, or 50 days in total – to be reminded again and again and again and, just maybe, have it sink in at least a little bit. You see, we need that time – we need that reminding – because the news of Easter is so unlike anything else we have ever heard or will ever hear in the rest of our lives – Good News that radically and completely overpowers all of the bad news of which we tend to hear so much. So, please make it your plan this year to make use of all 7 of the Sundays of Easter to be in worship with your congregational family. And during those 50 days… On the 40th Day of Easter, Thursday, May 9, we will observe the festival of Ascension of Our Lord when we will host a joint worship at 7:00pm including our United Church of Christ neighbors of their “Northern Cluster”. For that evening, we have invited Mr. Thomas Dressler to come and serve as our organist for worship. Tom is a professional organist, harpsichordist, speaker, and music director from Albrightsville, PA who first established a link with our congregational family when he came to do research in our archives concerning Pastor J. Michael Enderlein, from whom he is descended and whose possible connections with the great Johann Sebastian Bach as a young man back in Germany Tom is researching. While here, Tom thoroughly enjoyed playing our organ and expressed the hope that he might return some time and play for worship, with this being the result. Our worship order will celebrate Jesus’ Triumphant Ascension in scripture and prayer, with a very generous measure of Tom’s organ skills spread throughout. And then, on the 50th Day of Easter, Sunday, May 19 – we call it the Day of Pentecost – we will celebrate with several of our young members who will be confirmed in their faith and share together in Word and Sacrament during our 10:15am worship. You won’t want to miss it! Blessings to you and yours this (50-day-long) Easter Season, now just begun. Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!! Alleluia!!! Pastor Tom |
News from Miss Laurie, Young Christians Minister
Happy April, everyone! From the words of one of our favorite Easter songs, “Jesus died but He’s alive again – I can tell others that Jesus LIVES”!!
Now the season of Easter begins, so grab your calendars and pencil in these special activities:
Also, just an FYI – I will be in Nashville the weekend of April 21st but my daughter, Reagan, will lead SONday Celebration in my place!! There will be NO Celebration Time that Sunday.
Join us for the above special events and EVERY Sunday as we continue to celebrate the hope of Easter!! Jesus LIVES, indeed!!
Miss Laurie
Now the season of Easter begins, so grab your calendars and pencil in these special activities:
- Wednesday, April 3rd – Join us from 6:30 – 8:00 for the next meeting of Celebration Club! This month’s theme is “Choo-choo-choose Jesus”! Come and be part of the fun as we follow the signals that lead to Jesus!!
- Sunday, April 7th - It’s our annual Easter “Celebration” Service during worship! Join us for this kidfriendly service with contemporary versions of traditional hymns, a Sunny Sermon, music from the “Cotton Tails”, and an Easter Object lesson.
- Sunday, April 28th – Come and join us for a “Grow in God” SONday Celebration!
Also, just an FYI – I will be in Nashville the weekend of April 21st but my daughter, Reagan, will lead SONday Celebration in my place!! There will be NO Celebration Time that Sunday.
Join us for the above special events and EVERY Sunday as we continue to celebrate the hope of Easter!! Jesus LIVES, indeed!!
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. |