You can download a copy of the Messenger with graphics, or if you just want to read the text, keep scrolling! The February 2026 Events Calendar at St. James Lutheran Church is below.

All of our community events are posted on our events page, be sure to check them out !

A Message From Pastor Andrew

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
-John 13:34-35

The gospel of John is made up of just over 15,000 words. Of the 15,000 total words, just over 1,000 different words are used. With this, we might say that John’s gospel has the smallest vocabulary in the entire New Testament.  In of all John’s written Word, love is one of his frequent flyers – the three primary Greek words for love being used 57 times as both nouns and verbs. Some examples follow:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”

“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

“Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

“This is my command: Love each other.”

With this theme of love in mind, Luther deemed John 3:16; “The Gospel in a nutshell.” Love; At the heart of who God is. At the heart of Jeus’ ministry. At the heart of the church – the Body of Christ (at least it should be).

It seems fair to say, with all that is happening throughout the U.S. and across the world, the focus on love is deeply needed. Specifically, love made evident in the cross – Gospel love. Love, as reflected in our recently adopted St. James Covenant, that is given for the sake of others, that looks for the image of God in ALL to further empathy and understanding, that enhances the wellbeing of society and the world God made.

Because of this, because love is to be at the heart of our faith, this Lent, our midweek worship theme centers around Jesus’ mandate given to us on Maundy Thursday – on the night before his death on the cross – that we would love one another as he has loved us, that others would know we are his disciples.

As we journey through the season of Lent, may you spend time reflecting on the nature of God’s love – on what it means for the world, for you, and for how you live your lives because of it. On how such love is leading you to fulfill your duty as a Christian – to be Christ to your neighbor (Martin Luther, The Freedom of a Christian). For, this is our calling, our command, our mandate.

With love,

~Pastor Andrew

St. James Bookmarks

St. James’ Library celebrates this new year of reading with two recent additions to our middle school  collection, which will appear shortly on the book cart! Happy reading!

“The Greatest Cause of Mia Dubois” by Chris Casavant
After experiencing a hurricane which damages her Massachusetts neighborhood, 12 year old Mia visits her uncle in Chicago while her schools are closed due to the storm emergency.  While there, she learns about how climate change affects all parts of our country, and that many areas have a very difficult time recovering in the aftermath.

Returning home, Mia and her friends organize an after school club which takes up the needs of a storm damaged, yet overlooked city, 1000 miles away.  As the group reaches out to its new friends, they continue to learn more about the climate and the realities of environmental justice.  More importantly, Mia realizes that the efforts of one individual can indeed make a difference.

“The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School” by Kristin Mahoney
Mahoney introduces us to big sister Gus, who tries to share her middle school expertise with her younger sister Lou.  Gus shares any and all of the types of situations facing a new student as he/she navigates a middle school day: moments funny, sad, traumatizing, and exciting plus everything in between.

A Library New Year’s Resolution:  Take a moment to check out all your home bookshelves to make sure that none of our church copies have taken up residence there.  (I find about one a year. Oops!) There’s no fine when you return them, just put them on the rear left hand table and we will be most appreciative.

YOUNG AT HEART: KEEPING UP WITH THE KIDS
Adam Michael
Director of Youth & Family Ministry

What’s exciting in youth ministry these days? What would you say if I told you it was a new church management system?

OK, I know for most of our kids and parents, that’s probably leaving you questioning what else is in store for 2026, but I am honestly pumped to have an easier, simpler way to organize volunteers and find ways to get more of the church involved in our youth programming in less conventional ways. This will also allow us to send bulk text and voice messages to reach users in ways that they are more likely to see it.

Before we can take advantage of the new system, we will need to make sure everyone can receive our emails. Some messages from the new system are ending up in spam or junk folders. To see if you’ve received anything from this system, navigate to your junk or spam folder and search “church360.org.”  If you have any emails there from us, you will want to make sure you mark or report the email “not spam.” Every email system is different, but typically this option can be found with a right click on a computer mouse or by clicking the ellipsis (…) in the top right corner of your email screen.

Once you receive one of these emails, you will have a chance to update your communication preferences via a blue link at the bottom of the email. This will allow you to enter a phone number for us to reach you, and allow you to select which email addresses or numbers should receive notifications.

Please do not select Unsubscribe unless you are sure you do not want to receive communication from the church. As of now, this is tricky to switch back on from our end.

On your end, being able to receive calls and texts for important information will be helpful. On our end, we’re excited to be able to easily create new categories for needs. For instance, a few weeks ago I entered everyone who helped with Fastnachts the last two years into a “Fastnacht helper” category so I will not have to track down everyone who is most likely to want to help again this year.

Soon, I will put out a survey asking for specific needs that sometimes come up for youth programming, such as VBS helpers, youth drivers, snack makers, donors for specific projects, pick-up truck owners if we’d have a hauling project, people who might want to be a guest speaker, and more! If there are other unique ways you feel you can be of service to the youth, please email me at youth@stjamesgettysburg.org so I can add them to the survey.

Here’s looking forward to a more organized 2026 and beyond!

FASTNACHT HELPERS/ PURCHASERS REQUESTED: It’s that time of year again! We will be preparing Fastnachts Feb. 14- Feb. 17 for our annual sale. Head to www.stjamesgettysburg.org and click on our news, then events tab, to order fastnachts or sign up to help!

Each year, profits from the Fastnacht sale finance our youth mission trip. This year we will be headed to Lumberton, North Carolina with TeamEffort Youth Group Mission Trips from July 12-17. If middle and high school kids are interested in this trip, let me know!

In Christ’s love,

Adam Michael
Youth and Family Director
St. James Lutheran Church

MUSIC NOTES
Jonathan Noel, Minister of Music

To celebrate Black History Month, we honor André Thomas by performing his anthem
“Walk in the Light” on February 8th. Thomas has made a career of promoting culturally respectful performance and understanding of African American spirituals.

Thomas was born in 1952 in Wichita, Kansas. His mother cleaned busses and sang in church. As a child he took piano lessons at Wichita State University and won the Federated Music Clubs Piano Competition by eighth grade. Early on, André felt disconnected from the African American music culture. As a student at Friends University (Bachelor of Music 1973), his mentor Jester Hairston helped reshape his understanding of spirituals, emphasizing their linguistic and cultural integrity. Hairston explained how “[the] dialect was not a sign of inferiority but an accommodation for sounds that were not part of African speech.”

Thomas went on to earn a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Northwestern University (1976), and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois (1983). He served as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Florida State University (FSU) and was the founding artistic director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus. He conducted extensively across the United States and internationally, led 49 All-State choirs, and twice conducted the World Youth Choir. He is the author of the book “Over in Beulah Lan’: Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual.”

God’s Blessings,
Jonathan Noel

WORSHIP PREVIEWS

Jan 31st & Feb 1st:
4th Sunday After Epiphany

Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who mourn, and those who hunger for righteousness. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.
Preacher:  Pastor Libby Baker-Mikesell
Readings: Micah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, Psalm 15, Matthew 5:1-12
Fellowship,  hosted by Scout Troop 79

Feb. 7th & 8th:
5th Sunday After Epiphany

Light shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.
Preacher:  Pastor Andrew Geib
Readings: Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12], 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16], Psalm 112:1-9 [10], Matthew 5:13-20

Feb. 14th & 15th:
Transfiguration of Our Lord

Today’s festival is a bridge between the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle that comes to a close today and the Lent-Easter cycle that begins in several days. On a high mountain Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son, echoing the words at his baptism. This vision of glory sustains us as Jesus faces his impending death in Jerusalem. We turn this week to Ash Wednesday and our yearly baptismal journey from Lent to Easter. Some churches put aside the alleluia at the conclusion of today’s liturgy. This word of joy will be omitted during the penitential season of Lent and will be sung again at Easter.
Preacher:   Pastor Libby Baker-Mikesell
Readings: Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Psalm 2, Matthew 17:1-9

Feb. 21st & 22nd:
1st Sunday in Lent

Today’s gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. His forty-day fast becomes the basis of our Lenten pilgrimage. In the early church Lent was a time of intense preparation for those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. This catechetical focus on the meaning of faith is at the heart of our Lenten journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. Hungry for God’s mercy, we receive the bread of life to nourish us for the days ahead. 
Preacher:  Pastor Andrew Geib
Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7,  Romans 5:12-19, Psalm  32 Matthew 4:1-11

Feb. 28th & March 1st:
2nd Sunday in Lent

During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil. In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are a given a new birth as children of God. As God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world.
Preacher:   Pastor Libby Baker-Mikesell
Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Psalm  121, John 3:1-17

COUNCIL CORNER,
JAN. 21 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

En Bloc Agenda: Approved
*Approval of Minutes from Dec. 17, 2025
*Acceptance of New Members:  New Members class to be held on Feb. 8, and members will be welcomed into the congregation on Feb. 14-15.  In addition, there may be three baptisms.

Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report
Church Financials – Report to be given by Treasurer Karen Lentz: Giving was up $13,000 for the year, but spending should continue to be mindful of the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
ELC Financials: –The ELC received $10,536 in Giving Spree contributions along with a $9,000 “forever gift” from an anonymous donor.

Committee /Task Force Reports:
ELC Governance Committee – Possibility of additional classrooms: Two empty rooms in the ELC could be renovated as new classrooms, but additional bathrooms are needed as well. Funding is yet to be determined.

Other Committee Updates –The Finance Committee and the World Outreach Committee will meet Jan. 26.

Incident Management Assessment Team –The Emergency Policies and Procedures Document and the Immigration Enforcement Response Plan were submitted by Jim Flanagan. Discussion included condensing both documents into one-page bullet points for the congregation, placing them in the pew holders. Possible procedures for fire drills (coordinators, color-coded exits and attendance sheets) also are under consideration.  A motion to adopt the two documents was passed.

Unfinished Business:
Covenant Discussion and Update: The St. James Covenant 2025-2026 was adopted by Council and will be presented to the congregation during the RIC service on Feb. 8.

New Business:
C.A.R.E.S. Update -Real Estate Tax Assessment: St. James will file an appeal of a $34,000 county tax assessment related to use of the building as a shelter; appeal to be heard in October. The outcome could impact our relationship with C.A.R.E.S. and the continuance of hosting the cold-weather shelter at St. James. Anu decisions regarding this will be made after the October appeal.

Open call for other new business:
*Council elections: Four current Council members are up for re-election. Special meetings are scheduled for April 24-25 to solicit and announce candidates, and the election is scheduled for May 17.
*One service will be held on Ash Wednesday, at 7 pm.

Good for Church/Good for God/Good for Council

· Thank you to Pastor Caleb McClure at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church for housing C.A.R.E.S. residents during the bedbug eradication. In addition, WellSpan contributed blankets, the Adams County Rescue Mission brought mats and clothes, and the exterminators worked quickly to treat our premises and the Presbyterian church premises.

· St. James youth did an outstanding job during their Christmas Eve service.  Thanks to Mr. Adam and all of the kids (who wrote their own script).

· The chorale Christmas concert by the Master Singers of Virginia was incredible, melding traditional and modern music. Led by member Don Schade, we hope this will be an annual event.

· Pastor Andrew thanked everyone for their participation in all of the St. James Advent and Christmas events, with special recognition given to Todd Izydorski and Gretchen Carlson.

· As always, thanks to the pastors and the entire St. James staff for all they do.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 18, following Ash Wednesday worship

2026 Mission Fund Committee

At its annual meeting in January of 2010, the Congregation re-affirmed a resolution by Congregation Council to allocate one tenth of undesignated bequests to support the local and worldwide mission of the church.  Starting in 2020, the main source of funding for this mission switched to 30% of the Endowment Fund distributions from its ELCA Fund A.

The purpose of the Mission Fund Committee is to solicit suggestions from members of the congregation about organizations or programs to be considered for support, and then to evaluate the suggestions and make specific recommendations to Congregation Council for distribution of the Mission Fund monies.  The following six projects received Mission Fund support in 2025:

Lutheran Disaster Relief/ LDR ($3,966)
Fruitbelt Farmworker Christian Ministry ($4,000)
Refugee Resettlement Partnership Education Fund ($2,000)
Gettysburg Community Theater Penguin Project   ($1,500)
ELCA Fund for Leaders Scholarship ($1,000)
The Hartley Residence ($500)

The total amount of support provided equals $12,966. 

The committee is now ready to receive suggestions from members of the congregation for the 2026 distributions from the Mission Fund.  This year there is an extraordinary need for support locally and globally. If you have an organization or program that you wish to recommend for consideration for possible support, please send the following information to Claire Anderson by e-mail (battleburg@gmail.com) or in writing through the church office by noon on Sunday March 1st:

1.  Your name and your contact information (telephone and/or e-mail address).
2. The name and contact information of the organization or program that you are recommending (name of organization or program, name of a person, telephone, address, website, etc.).
3. The mission of the organization or program and a rationale for support from St. James, including the extent of need for that project.

As the committee develops recommendations for distribution of the Mission Fund monies, it keeps in mind the overall mission of St. James: “We respond to God’s abundant grace by being hearers, proclaimers, and doers of the Word.”

A Message From The Scouts

As we celebrate Scout Sunday and the birth of scouting, the leaders, scouts and families of Cub Scout Pack 79 and Scout Troop 79, both sponsored by St. James, would like to thank the congregation for its support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the leaders that give of their time and talents to work with these young people and to thank the boys and girls and their families who are involved in these programs. I appreciate all of you! Again, thank you St. James for your continued support. Please remember the youth, their families and the leaders in your prayers as we all try “to do our best, to do our duty, to God and our country.”

Shirley Sanders
Unit Commissioner & Chartered Organization Representative

PARISH RECORDS

50+ Wedding Anniversaries
January 27, David & Barbara Hedrick, 58 years

Deaths
December 26, Dorothy “Dotty” Kint
January 5, Jane LeVan
January 22, Ramona Baumann

VISITING ST. JAMES OR
CALLING (717-334-2012)

Office Hours:
Monday—office closed
Tuesday—Friday, 9:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
Wednesdays until 5:30 pm

201, Katy Clowney, Church Administrator, kclowney@StJamesGettysburg.org
202, Julie Albert, Administrative Coordinator, jalbert@StJamesGettysburg.org
203, Adam Michael, (off on Fridays), Director of Youth & Family Ministry, youth@StJamesGettysburg.org 
205, Pr. Libby Baker-Mikesell, (off on Fridays), Associate Pastor, lbakermikesell@StJamesGettysburg.org
206, Pr. Andrew R. Geib, (off on Fridays), Lead Pastor, ageib@StJamesGettysburg.org
207, Jonathan Noel, (off on Fridays), Minister of Music, jnoel@StJamesGettysburg.org
215, Todd Izydorski, (off on Fridays), Building Superintendent, sexton@StJamesGettysburg.org