2024 Newsletters
St Peter
Lutheran Church
Of Red Cross
Dornsife, PA
Newsletter
Spring 2024
Pastor’s Corner
With Endurance and Joy
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2. ESV
Are we trained and ready to continue with endurance in our lives of faith individually and as a church? I went on a long hike today and realized once again that I need to keep training, and keep practicing, so that I can keep the endurance needed to hike in the mountains. People are often impressed when I say I grew up in Nepal and had to walk in the mountains all the time. The thing is, I don’t have the same endurance and lung capacity now that I did as a child. Sure, I know how to hike. I know the techniques to go up mountains and how to go downhill safely so that I can keep going for hours. But despite frequent walks of medium duration behind my home, including some inclines, I haven’t actually been hiking enough for my heart and lungs and muscles to find it easy. I don’t have the same endurance that I used to. If I want to hike the mountains here, let alone in Nepal again one day, I need to actually practice hiking more than once a year.
All well and good you say. Why are you talking about this, Pastor? In Hebrews, Paul equates the life of faith to a race that requires endurance. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It is an all-day hike, not a stroll around the block. It requires training, adaptation to changing conditions, and endurance. The life of faith isn’t just a difficult slog though. I go hiking not just to tire my legs out, although exercise is part of the goal. I go hiking for the views of river valleys, mountain streams, interesting trees and flowers, glimpses of birds on the wing or butterflies in the woods. Today I got to see bald eagles nesting and birds migrating, and it was a joy to see God’s creation along with spending time getting to know the group I went hiking with. Jesus endured the tough stuff that we couldn’t handle, endured the cross, for the immense joy set before him. We too can endure the challenges of life and faith, the training and the trials, when we focus on the joy along the journey as well as the joy of the life to come. Let us face this season of Lent and this year of celebrating what God has done, as a time of training in drawing close to God. If you have lost your child-like faith, Jesus invites you to take it up again and learn from him, focusing on the joy that he brings. Training in faith is a lifelong journey of both endurance and joy, and an opportunity of rediscovering what it means to follow Jesus.
This year in particular, we celebrate that God has been faithful in gathering his people together for generations here in Pennsylvania. Many saints have continued their journeys of faith together with joyful endurance. How will God choose to move and work today and in the years to come? How is he calling us to follow him? The challenges of growing and training in faith are the same generation after generation, even though styles change. We are called to gather as the people of God, to seek the Lord by listening to and reading His Word, to discuss it and share our stories of faith, to lift up our voices in praise and worship, and lift up our supplications to the Lord as we pray with and for one another. And to always be willing to share with the world the amazing good news of what Jesus has done for us.
It is so easy to get caught up in the pleasures of this world and distracted from the walk of faith. We are to enjoy the world God has made and given us to steward, but we are not to use it for ill or only our own pleasure and gain at the expense of our neighbor. Each generation needs to return to the Lord for themselves, not depending on the faith of their parents. God gave this word to Solomon and he gives it to us as well: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14. ESV
I invite you to join me in a time of seeking the Lord in prayer. training ourselves in faith and humbling ourselves before him in repentance as we listen for his guidance. We can depend on God’s word that he will hear our prayer, give us healing, and lead us in the ways we should go when we turn to him. As he has shown himself faithful in the past, he will be faithful in the years to come. Let’s dust off the boots and walking sticks, our Bibles and songbooks, and fill our canteens with the pure living water of the Word of God. Let us prepare ourselves and be ready for what God is going to do, and keep our eyes and ears open for the sigh of the Spirit.
Shalom
~ Pastor Karis
Back From Nepal!
A simple letter of thanks and prayer.
By Aaron Ruohoniemi
I’m so excited to announce that I arrived safely back in the United States on February 6th after spending exactly 6 months in Nepal!
To start off, I’d like to express that I simply cannot thank you enough for all the incredible prayer and support I’ve received throughout the past six months! Because of your prayer, I had the most wonderful time in Nepal making countless friends and memories.
It was surreal to finally live in the country and amongst the people that I have heard so much about throughout my childhood. The Nepali and international community in Nepal was so exceptionally welcoming and kind. I’m so thankful to have witnessed and been a part of the great work being done by the Nepali church and missionary community.
The tight bonds that I was able to form with the three young kids that I taught and helped to care for are so special to me. That family will always hold a special place in my heart.
Now that I’m back in Pennsylvania, I will be resuming my duty as Admin. Assistant at Red Cross and trying to figure out the future that God has planned out for me. While I’m planning to attend college in the fall, I am so incredibly excited to let you all know that my next adventure will be teaching English at a youth camp at Lake Baikal in Buryatia, Russia for the first two weeks of July! Please keep this trip in your prayers.
Additionally, please continue to pray for the missionary family I stayed with and assisted during my time in Nepal, as they transition to this time without my presence in their family.
Finally, please pray for the hearts of the people of Nepal, that they will open up towards the Lord and his workings. Your prayer can truly make a difference in the lives of unbelievers all around the world.
Thanks again! -Aaron Ruohoniemi
Winter roundup
Christmas Eve
Thank you to all who participated in and attended the special afternoon service for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. It was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship!
Home Visits
For those who are unable to attend church, if you would like to be visited by Pastor Karis and/or receive communion, please call Pastor Karis. For emergencies of any sort please contact Pastor Karis directly. Calls, texts, messages, emails, or just stopping by to chat are all welcome forms of communication.
Spring Texts 2024
March 3rd – Mark 12:1-17; Psalm 80:7-19
March 10th – Mark 12:29-44; Psalm 89:1-4
March 17th – Mark 13:1-8, 24-37;
Psalm 102:12-17
March 24th – Mark 11:1-11; 14:3-9
Psalm 118:25-29
March 29th – Mark 15:16-39; Psalm 22
March 31st – Mark 16:1-20; Psalm 118:21-27
April 7th – Acts 1:1-14; Mark 6:7-13
April 14th – Acts 3:1-10; Mark 6:53-56
April 21st – Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thess 1:1-10;
Mark 13:9-11
April 28th – Acts 18:1-4; 1 Cor 1:10-18
Mark 9:34-35
May 5th – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3;
Mark 12:28-31
May 12th – 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, 51-57;
Mark 12:26a-27
May 19th – Acts 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13;
Mark 1:4-8
May 26th – Luke 11:2-4; Psalm 81;
Psalms 65 &67
Announcements:
Line Mountain School Musical
Line Mountain Theater Dept presents “Footloose The Musical” on Feb 29, March 1, and March 2 at 7PM in the H.S. auditorium.
Soup & Bake Sale
We are hosting a delicious soup & bake sale on March 2nd! The soups are Ham & Bean and Chicken Corn at $8.00 per quart. Pickup starts at 9:00AM.
Winter Jam – March 9th
$15 donation per person. Youth Event at the Bryce Jordan Center, State College with Christian bands. Let Pastor Karis know if you are interested in attending. The Koinonia will get a small group together to go. Find out more at https://bjc.psu.edu/winter-jam-0
Easter Sunrise Service
There will be one Easter service March 31st at 6:30AM with breakfast immediately following.
Hymn Sing
April 7th during the morning service.
Mother’s Day Meal
Sunday, May 5th after the worship service.
Ice Cream Social
Join us May 18th at 4pm for Homemade Ice Cream! David Hause and Richard Scheib will be giving a talk on the history of the cemetery.
250th Church Anniversary
This year our congregation is celebrating 250 years of worshiping together! We are planning a celebration weekend this Autumn, September 15-16, 2024.
A committee has been formed to discuss ideas, and organizational meetings will be held each month. All are welcome to participate in planning.
Church Cookbook – As part of the 250th commemoration, we are compiling a cookbook full of all your favorite recipes.
So that we have an idea of how many to print, please provide an estimate of how many you anticipate ordering. A form will be at the greeter’s station, or message Sandra Reed.
Vacation or sick days? -- As a reminder, Sermon videos and Livestreams of Services are available every week on the YouTube channel: Ziranphel. The link is also posted each Sunday on our Facebook page.
Sunday Bible School -- 10:30 am
We are studying Bible answers to participants’ questions with open discussion time. We have decided to start again at the beginning with Genesis. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Weekly Prayer -- Wednesdays 9am
Sunday School room next to the Sanctuary. All are welcome to join in prayer or send in prayer requests.