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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
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In Christ we are a new creation!
The 40 days of Lent have given way to the 50 days of Easter. It’s a season of refreshment, of putting on our new lives in Christ (which we receive daily) and being refreshed for ministry in Christ’s name. This Easter season happens to coincide with the finalization of a major step in the process of calling a new pastor. The Ministry Site Profile will be completed this spring. The process in on track to see this congregation’s profile being shared nationwide in the ELCA by the time summer begins in earnest. Then, we wait. God is working on the new in more hearts than just yours in the congregation. Pastors who are exploring new calls for themselves will be reading Hill’s profile, and those interested in going deeper into exploring who you are here will contact the the synod office to make known their desire to be considered as a candidate here. How long will that take? The ONLY sure answer anyone has to that question is “As long as God needs to guide that new relationship into being.” In the meantime, we still have some work to do here. I like to call it the “Getting Ready to Welcome” phase of this process. What could and should we be doing to welcome a new pastor? When we think about the strongest place someone could being to build relationships here, what’s in place? What isn’t that should be? How do we help someone succeed in partnering with Hill for the sake of the Gospel’s work? You see, it’s not just or ever about only what the pastor’s skills are. The congregation has a responsibility to partner with ministry leaders in this work. Think the Strawberry Festival, how so many details and teams handling them work together to create a fluid, effective and life-giving service on behalf of the congregation. So, we have some time to get very specific about refreshing things in preparation for this huge welcome on the horizon. The list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s weighty and important. It includes:
Let’s take a deeper look at the last two: Care lists and ways we show or pass along concerns for care. We’ll spend a whole congregation conversation on this in the upcoming weeks. This will take some practice and some thinking through. Ways of communicating well and effectively have to flex and change depending on the depth and longevity of a relationship. Have you ever met new people, been in a new team, made a new friendship? You sit with them at a dinner, and they being talking to you about someone else. You think “I have no idea who they’re talking about” or “I can barely remember the name of the person sitting across from me, let alone know who they’re talking about!” Dear folks, this has nothing to do with the skill of a pastor. It is the place every single one of us is in at the start of a new relationship. So, WE at Hill bear the responsibility of thinking about ways we can help the new pastor grow into relationships with everyone here. Here’s a foretaste of the feast to come in that Congregation Conversation:
In Christ, we are a new creation. That doesn’t mean that we have to throw everything out and start again. It’s an invitation to refresh ourselves, to look critically with a loving eye at how we are caring community together, and to deepen our faith practices of care by responding in ways that are appropriate for a relationship that is just beginning to grow. Welcome to the Easter journey, dear church. As the process goes, so we grow together! May the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the God of all new beginnings bless us. PK |
Holy Week Schedule
Join us as we journey through Holy Week together:
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News from Miss Laurie, Young Christians Minister
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Happy April everyone! This month, our Lenten journey comes to a close and we now anticipate the promise of Easter! Grab your pens and take down these important dates:
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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