You can download a copy of the Messenger with graphics, or if you just want to read the text, keep scrolling! The September 2024 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

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
-James 2:14-17

I’ve talked before about the many “trinkets” that adorn my office – things passed down to me from pastor grandfathers and pastor parents, gifts given to me, artwork from children (yours and mine). Also among the list are the many books that weigh down my shelves. As with your personal libraries, there are those books that are particularly meaningful to me. One is a short read, entitled The Preacher’s Doorknob. Our retired clergy and seminary professors no doubt have heard of it. It was written back in the 1940’s by Rev. Dr. Leander M. Zimmerman– a graduate of Gettysburg College and Gettysburg Seminary, and the founding pastor of Christ Lutheran Church Inner Harbor.

As you might expect from the book’s title, the pages reflect on the preacher’s doorknob and on the many hands who grasp it – from the greatest and highest to the lowest and most humble. At the onset of the book, Rev. Leander makes the bold claim that “no one should be better able to do this than the preacher… endowed with understanding and a kind personality he should be the best sort of psychiatrist… his wide and varied experiences enabling him to give wise and comforting counsel for the lessening of sorrow and the multiplying of joys”… No pressure…

So, a lot has been on the pastor’s mind over these past couple of months. To use Leander’s language – my doorknob has been in good use. Not to mention my email and my cell phone. Too many of our saints on earth have joined the saints triumphant. Too many have received the news of cancer. Too many are dealing with hardships at home. Too many are facing fractured relationships – too many because of differing political thoughts. Outside of our membership, too many of our neighbors are simply struggling to make ends meet – as you’ve heard me share in recent sermons, homelessness is increasingly becoming an Adams County crisis.

In all of this there has been sorrow and joy. I’m not so sure I’ve been the best sort of psychiatrist, nor am I so sure I’ve given wise counsel. I can only hope I’ve been comforting – that I’ve lessened a bit of sorrow. What I can say is that we together, as church, have. Throughout the sorrow, the biggest joy for me through these summer months has been the doorknobs that so many of you have opened – the care and compassion you have given to the bereaved, the food you have provided, the burdens you have eased, the prayers you have lifted up. Together, we have brought joy, comforted, and lessened sorrow. And for that I am grateful.

While the above verses from the book of James are often considered the antithesis of Lutheran thought – challenging our core theology of justification (that we are saved by grace through faith) with the claim that faith without works is dead – they are verses worthy of our attention. We have been saved by grace – the gift greater than all others. So then, let us respond in gratitude (as we do in so many ways already) with good works. Sit with a grieving friend. Cook a meal for a family overwhelmed. Give of what you have to those who have little. Extend a kind word. Visit the lonely. Offer forgiveness. Embrace a stranger. In all things, share the Good News. For, what is the point of grace if we keep it for ourselves?

With love,
~Pastor Andrew

A Message From Pastor Libby

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.” – Leviticus 23:22

September has always been one of my favorite times of the year. With it comes newness, the hope of changing seasons and new opportunities. A new school year begins with the changing of weather and leaves, and harvest time for many Adams County farmers.

When I was growing up, September also marked one of my favorite weeks of the year: the Juniata County Fair. Held the week of Labor Day, fair week brought all of Juniata County together for a celebration of agriculture, time, talent, and delicious fair food.

Among the stands selling ice cream, fresh cut french fries, and funnel cakes, lay my favorite food option: The Port Royal Lutheran Church’s fair stand. At the turn of the century, the Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches each had a food stand at the county fair. Today, the Lutheran church’s stand is the only one left, selling homemade turkey, ham, and roast beef dinners, pie, and soup for fairgoers. My family and I have served dinners at the fair stand for as long as I can remember. I began to help as soon as I could count change (around 8 years old), and will return to help my home congregation for the opening shift on Labor Day this year.

Church members begin prepping for the fair months in advance. Pie shells are made and frozen, corn is picked, turkey and roast beef donations secured, and drinks purchased. What began as a church event slowly has turned into a community building opportunity; people from community organizations, school clubs, and other churches volunteer their time and talents to make food that brings people together. Every year, dozens of people travel hundreds of miles for a taste of Port Royal Lutheran’s home
cooked comfort food. It’s an opportunity for us to share the harvest with those in our community, and a chance to share the life-giving food of Christ with those in spiritual need.

This summer, we have seen dozens of people coming to our church in need of food and shelter. In a season of plenty, the need for life necessities is overwhelming. It has been a blessing to be able to speak to people, hear their stories, and help in any small way that we can – be it a night at a hotel, gas, or a food voucher. While helpful in the moment, I am often left wondering what else can be done to help those among us who are hungry in mind, body, and in spirit.

As we enjoy the harvest this month, let us remember those among us who are searching for food – spiritual or otherwise. Give extra produce to SCCAP, or donate to Ruth’s Harvest to ensure students have food for the weekend. Sign up for Meal Train, and make food for those who need some extra support in their lives, and a warm meal to ease their burdens. Let us share our plenty, trusting in the One who provides for us.

With Love, Pastor Libby

Sign Up For Dinner Groups

It’s time again to sign up for a wonderful fellowship opportunity—Dinner Groups! Organized by the Evangelism & Fellowship Team, Dinner Groups consist of 6-8 people, and meet in each other’s homes. However, hosting is not a prerequisite. The host provides the entree and guests provide the side dishes or dessert. Transportation can be arranged. Individuals outside of our membership can be included. You can sign up at the Welcome Table, outside of the worship space, or at https://stjamesgettysburg.org/DinnerGroup

Young At Heart: Keeping Up With The Kids

Adam Michael, Dir. of Youth & Family Ministry

There are two big things I remember learning in Sunday School as a kid: God loves you no matter what, but he also has a list of objectives he’d like you to accomplish and traits to possess if you’re willing. Here’s the typical zinger response from kids: If God loves me no matter what, why does it matter if I accomplish anything on the list, or even matter how I treat people?

Many adults and even most kids, if pressed, understand the intrinsic reward that comes from a job done well. The spiritually talented also learn to act not in need of reward, but out of gratitude for what we already have, but typically, that takes some life experience to sink in.

Being a parent and a youth pastor certainly has helped me understand fully how I can love so many children for who they are, while helping them set an ambitious but wide-ranging course for who they might become. This year, our youth group will try to tackle this concept through the idea of renovation.

Renovation means taking something of value and improving it. But often during a renovation project, we need to make a mess before we can clearly see the improvement. Essentially, things get worse before they get better. We must learn to be comfortable in our mess, keeping the end goal in mind.

In youth group, this might mean infusing a concept with something that feels like an opposite; for instance, questioning or doubting something we think we’re confident in, and hoping to find more truth. A true renovation must maintain or improve the foundation while expressing something new and, hopefully, improved. In youth group, this means taking a concept we understand and learning how to be more Christ-like in our approach.

I want to focus on the theme verse Ezekiel 36:26: “I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” God’s renovation of our hearts comes not from hardening, but from massaging. Taking from a firm, immovable force and making it lively, vulnerable and self-sustaining. This is what it means to reject the stony idol and commit to the complicated, all-encompassing but greatly paradoxical God.

Obviously, we’ll break that down into kid language and I know it’s still a lot to process. But by introducing these concepts simply now, our kids will be better prepared to engage with them the next time around.

In Christ’s love, Adam Michael Youth and Family Director
PS: You can scan this QR code to see highlights of what some of our youth experienced at the 2024 ELCA National Youth Gathering in July.

Music Notes: Jonathan Noel, Minister of Music

In July, I attended a conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians held on the campus of Valparaiso University in Indiana. The conference was held in conjunction with Lutheran Summer Music, an annual summer camp for youth musicians hosted by Valparaiso. The week was filled with opportunities to hear a wide variety of music, to worship together, to meet outstanding students and hear their stories, to connect with colleagues, and to learn and grow as a musician.

The centerpiece of the conference was a 300th anniversary performance of the St. John Passion by J.S. Bach. Bach inserted chorales (German hymns) at key moments in the work, providing poignant pauses in the action and acting as commentary on the narrative. All of us in the audience were invited to join in the singing of the chorales. Although we were singing in German, a few of the tunes are still familiar to us today: “Ah, Holy Jesus” and “O Sacred Head” for example. These hymns continue to serve the same function today in Good Friday passion readings in many churches, including St James.

Conferences like this have many workshops and lectures presenting a dizzying array of options. It is always difficult to choose which ones to attend and impossible to get to everything. This time, I took in several anthem reading sessions provided by major denominational publishing houses. I attended an in-depth look at the St. John Passion, a lecture on Bach Cantatas, a survey of classical piano repertoire useful in worship services, a discussion of ways to empower musicians within the congregation, a workshop on visual arts in worship, and a conversation about the role of the choir past, present, and future.

In addition to daily morning prayer, there was an opening eucharist, closing eucharist, and an LSM faculty recital. The level of music-making at the services was high. And, as is always the case, many of the leading composers of organ, piano, and choral music within the Lutheran Church were present both as attendees and presenters: Wayne Wold, Anne Krentz Organ, Robert Hobby, Nancy Raabe, and David Cherwien, to name a few.

Conferences like this provide me with the opportunity to learn, discover, connect, and recharge. I genuinely appreciate the continuing education funding that St. James provides.

Prayers and Financial Support for Source of Life Ministries in Haiti

Emergency conditions have returned to Gressier, Haiti. Gangs have arrived and taken control of much of the surrounding area, including the police station. Kenyan police advisors are now present in Port au Prince, Haiti, where gangs currently control over 80% of the city. The gang activity is the first priority for the police advisors to address.

Responding to this growing emergency, and an appeal from Jacques, the St. James Council approved a fundraiser to help with expenses and upcoming needs to evacuate children and staff from Gressier and move them to a new safe home. Funds are being sought to secure the following: a one-year lease ($5,000) for new safe home, generator installation and fuel, supplemental electrical wiring, water supply improvement, and basic furniture.

Jacques continues to work tirelessly to confront this deteriorating situation. He expresses his ongoing gratitude for all Source of Life Ministry supporters’ prayers and sustaining gifts. His prayer requests include the following: wisdom and guidance, safe passage and transportation, safety and peaceful hearts, funding and provision of food, water, electricity, fuel, and furniture, safety & security for neighbors in Gressier, an end to the violence, and that the Lord will work on the hearts of those who oppose him.

If you wish to support Source of Life Ministries and help the children and staff & their upcoming evacuation needs, please make checks payable to St. James Lutheran Church, memo: SOL/Haiti.

Worship Previews

AUGUST 31 & SEPTEMBER 1: 15TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We who were washed in the word when we were born in the font return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts.
Preacher: Pastor Andrew Geib
Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 James 1:17-27
Psalm 15 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

SEPTEMBER 7 & 8: 16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
Preacher: Pastor Libby Baker-Mikesell
Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7a James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17
Psalm 146 Mark 7:24-37
Fellowship, hosted by World Outreach & Endowment

SEPTEMBER 14 & 15: 17TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Three weeks ago we heard Peter’s confession of faith as told in John’s gospel. This week we hear Mark’s version, when Peter says, “You are the Messiah.” In John, the stumbling block is Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus’ words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus’ words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross.
Preacher: Pastor Andrew Geib
Readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a James 3:1-12
Psalm 116:1-9 Mark 8:27-38

SEPTEMBER 21 & 22: 18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them a flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.
Preacher: Pastor Libby Baker-Mikesell
Readings: Jeremiah 11:18-20 James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a
Psalm 54 Mark 9:30-37

SEPTEMBER 28 & 29: 19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
Preacher: Pastor Andrew Geib
Readings: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 James 5:13-20
Psalm 19:7-14 Mark 9:38-50

COUNCIL CORNER

August 21 Meeting Highlights

New Business:

• Approval of Minutes from July 17, 2024, Council Meeting: Minutes approved unanimously.
• Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report: Report approved unanimously.
• Church Financials: Our current giving thru July is positive enough that our 2024 budget is within reach if we can keep pace with the 1st half of the 2024 giving.
• Finance Committee Update from Finance Chair Cathy Haynes
• Acceptance of New Members (accepted unanimously): Via affirmation of faith – Paige Betch, Murray & Katie Beachtel, Steve & Amy Duncan, Chris & Margery Lau, Pastors Cathy & Richard Geib, Doug & Diane Fulton, Via Baptism – Olivia and Cooper Beachtel
• Motion for AED Purchase and Installation: A vote passed to purchase 3 new AEDs for installation on the 3 floors of the church building. Units for the main and 3rd floors will be paid for via Capital Campaign funds; the ELC will purchase its own unit. Two more units may be purchased in the future.
• Church Van: A one-year pilot program for the purchase of a van for church use was detailed. Discussions to continue at the September council meeting.
• Benevolence Review for 2025 Budget: Prepared by Finance Committee Chair C. Haynes, a list of groups supported by St. James will be reviewed by church committees prior to composing the 2025 budget.
• Council Mission Update: Besides personal invitations to friends & neighbors to attend services, the congregation should also invite others to seasonal events Council members should also review the Eblast for upcoming events & share with the congregation our Council Mission of inviting nonmembers of our church to one of our many functions and/or services.
• Council Members Serving on Committees: a review of council members acting as liaisons to church committees.
  Good for Council – Good for Church – Good for God
• The recent concert featuring Jonathan Rundman was deemed “first-class entertainment.”
  * Thanks to all who participated in the Relay for Life.
• Thanks from one congregant for the council & the welcoming atmosphere at St. James.
• Visitors said they have never been to a church where congregants stayed after the service to listen to the postlude.
• The grandmother of one of our youth came to our services to thank the church for being so mindful of her granddaughter during a recent time of need.
• Council will consider ways to attract more people to the annual congregational meeting in November, including buying parking meters around the church.
  Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Parish Records

DEATHS
July 28 Carol Christianson
Aug. 3 John Seilhamer
Aug. 9 Trudy Gobbel

BAPTISMS
August 18 Cooper Beachtel & Olivia Beachtel

NEW MEMBERS—AUGUST 18
Paige Betch
Murray, Katie, Olivia & Cooper Beachtel
Steve & Amy Duncan
Doug & Diane Fulton
Chris & Margery Lau
Pastors Cathy & Richard Geib

50+ WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
June 20 Daniel & Mary Folkemer 54 years
September 11 Joe & Kay MacDowell 59 Years
September 17 John & Mary Stevenson 63 Years

WEDDINGS
Aug. 24 Bryan Lynn Shew & Denise Elaine Staub
Aug. 24 Alexis Brooke Kennedy & Jacob William Sharrah

Prayer Shawls

Thank you to Kathy Reider and Martha Wolf, who spent time this summer organizing the yarn and prayer shawl closet. While there is a significant amount of partial skeins of yarn, actual full skeins of yarn to complete shawls are minimal. Folks continue to make prayer shawls, and Martha has been using partial skeins of yarn to crochet “scraptastic” blankets in various sizes that may be donated to the Agape House this fall.
St. James continues to share prayer shawls with our members and would greatly appreciate donations to refill the closet. If you have shawls or yarn you wish to donate to this worthy cause, we would welcome knitting worsted #4 yarn that is machine washable and ma-chine dry. While the prayer shawl committee no longer meets on a regular basis, should you be interested in activating this committee, please contact Martha Wolf at [email protected] or 415-601-2291.

A Note From The Creation Care Taskforce- Plastic Recycling

Spending a week with no recycling options in the Shenandoah Valley recently, it became evident that we are doing pretty well with recycling here in Adams county. Most of us have curbside pickup of cans and plastic bottles, and maybe cardboard and newspapers as well. The Adams County Rescue Mission accepts cardboard, newspapers, some plastics, cans, magazines, household items and clothing. There is glass recycling at the county center near the prison, the first Saturday of each month.

However most plastics are not recyclable, UNTIL NOW! We have discovered an organization in York, CRDC Global, that is taking all plastics and turning them into resins reed for construction. All plastics must be clean and in plastic bags. This is an opportunity to car-pool a bunch of bags of plastic together and keep it out of the waste stream. Information can be found at crdc.global and refillism.com/pages/crdc-plastic-drop-off .

Don’t forget—we continue to collect corks and batteries on the first Sunday of each month !

Fall Quilting – Just Around The Corner !

Beginning September 9th and continuing through October 28th, the St. James Quilters will meet on Monday mornings from 9:30 -11:00 am in room 309. We have completed 20 quilts over the summer and are halfway to our 40 quilt goal! Come when you can and join the group as we arrange quilt blocks into quilt tops, pin or sew layers together, and/or knot the quilts to finish the job. If you like to sew and can’t meet on Mondays, we have pre-arranged quilt block sets to stitch together at your leisure. Start the week off with a light heart!

Thank You For Your Support of Relay For Life

Dear St. James Family,
Relay For Life of Adams County is held each year in August. It is a culmination of a year of work for the planning committee and the teams that are a part of the event. It is a major fundraiser all over the world for the American Cancer Society (ACS). I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your support of fundraisers, for donations, for those who helped many hours throughout the day, and for those who attended. A special thank you to Pastor Andrew, Ernie Kranias, Shawn Waybrant, Kevin and Lori Varish, and Troop 79. It is appreciated by me, the ACS and all involved in this event! We will be back in 2025. Thanks again !

Shirley Sanders

Book Marks

Check out these new additions to the library, for the young readers in your life:

“Pink is for Boys” by Robb Pearlman is a delightful pre school level board book expressing the concept that all colors of the rainbow are for everyone to enjoy without gender bias or stereotyping. The joyful, brightly colored illustrations reinforce color identification of varied objects both common and whimsical, while at the same time delivering an empowering message.

“Mexikid” by Pedro Martin, is a humorous graphic novel appropriate for ages 9 and up. Pedro is American born with parents from Mexico, feeling that he doesn’t actually belong in either country. One summer all 11 family members pack into a Winnebago on a 2000 mile trip to Mexico to bring the family’s grandfather back to live with them. Pedro’s coming of age story on this amazing road trip features family history & culture, sibling interactions, & deeply personal moments. Emotion flows from hilarity to poignancy. “Mexikid” has been chosen as a Newberry Honor Book.

Visiting St. James

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

Calling St. James at 717-334-2012

201     Katy Clowney
          Church Administrator
          [email protected] 

202  Julie Albert
          Administrative Coordinator
          [email protected]      

203     Adam Michael, off on Fridays
          Director of Youth & Family Ministry
[email protected] 

205   Pr. Libby Baker-Mikesell, off on Fridays
Associate Pastor
[email protected]

206 Pr. Andrew R. Geib, off on Fridays
Lead Pastor
[email protected] 

207 Jonathan Noel, off on Fridays
Minister of Music
[email protected] 

215 Tom Bender, off on Fridays
Building Superintendent
[email protected]