St. James Storytelling – May 2025
by Mark Withrow
I first came to St. James through the side door on Stratton Street on a Thursday afternoon in 2019. My wife, Sonja, and I had recently moved to Gettysburg full-time. I came to St. James a few times each week through the Stratton Street entrance and went downstairs to a noon time meeting. I found it amazing and wonderful that one church would have so many AA meetings each week. I had moved from Virginia where groups were fortunate to find a church that would host one meeting a week. And here at St. James there were 20-30 people every day, sometimes twice a day, six days a week! What a welcoming and service-oriented church!
And then March 2020 came and everything closed. And in May another St. James miracle occurred! The church was opened once a day only for AA meetings. Even though attendance at meetings was low, St. James Lutheran Church was key in saving lives and helping many to maintain on-going sobriety. Again, what a welcoming and service-oriented church!
Finding a new church home when you move to a new town seemed overwhelming. We had been members of a church in Virginia; sat in the same pew each Sunday, the same people sat beside us each week, etc. For me the welcoming and service-oriented church I had been coming to for meetings seemed like the place to come to worship. We first came to services on Saturday evening and enjoyed the intimate and simple service. We were welcomed by church members and the messages in the sermons kept us coming back. Due to a conflict one Saturday night we came to the 10:45 Sunday service one weekend. We were greeted by many, heard the choir and music, and felt like we had found our church home.
Pastor Andrew reached out, and meeting with him made me think I had known him for a long, long time. The Holy Spirit was apparent that day. I looked forward to each Sunday. My spirit was being fed in so many ways. Each time I came to St. James I left feeling refreshed and renewed. That feeling has continued over the years.
I know I was led here by the Holy Spirit and I found myself wanting to be of service to God in any way I could. Ask and you shall receive! Soon I found myself spending the night standing over a very hot bin of grease making something called fastnachts! You get to know a group of people when you stand with them overnight making these crazy and delicious pastries. Another community within the church! The opportunity to be an usher became available and is a great way to get to know other church members while being of service. I was encouraged to come to Thursday morning Bible study. What a fun group that is and we learn at the same time. Another community within the church! And I was asked to be a member of the Congregation Council. This is such a rewarding opportunity to be of service.
Spiritual growth is a part of St. James. There is so much love and compassion and community throughout this church. St. James is not just a place of worship. This is a place where God’s love is abundant and ALL are welcome. I will keep coming back!