March 2025
An update as we look ahead …
Fellow Parishioners,
It’s hard to believe that two months have passed since we said goodbye to Pastor Joel and Ruth. They definitely appreciated the luncheon celebration that was held in their honor. Since then, the process of calling a new pastor has started and you will certainly see and hear more in the coming months. Here is a brief update.
As you may know, the process of calling a new pastor is not an easy or a quick one. The steps outlined by the Upper Susquehanna Synod are intentional and will allow for us to “get our house in order” and thoughtfully reflect on the qualities we, as a congregation, want to see in our next pastor, as well as the duties and responsibilities we will expect of our next shepherd. As a result, this process is not just a matter of advertising the vacancy, collecting applications, interviewing a few good candidates, and making our final selection.
The call process requires us to update our constitution and by-laws, a process that was started pre-COVID but was interrupted. We will need to have the constitution reviewed and adopted by the congregation, which is an entirely separate process. We also have to have our financial records audited, and Brad Miller, our treasurer, is working diligently on getting our accounts and books in order to prepare. And lastly, we need to develop a Ministry Site Profile, or MSP document. Think of the MSP as something like our “ad” for prospective pastors—it will summarize our congregation’s current condition and who we are seeking. Pastor Stina Schaeffer has been assigned by the Synod to help us in this endeavor.
As you can tell, there is a great deal happening behind the scenes now and things will only get busier over the next few months. The council and all of the related committees (constitution and by-laws and Ministry Site Profile) are committed to being transparent and will provide updates through announcements, social media posts on our Facebook page, and in future bulletins, where appropriate. The congregation’s input will also be invaluable during each step of this process, so we ask each member of St. Matthew’s to stay up to date, volunteer to help, respond to surveys, or ask questions when you have them.
Despite all of this uncertainty, it’s also important for us to pause and consider for a moment where we are now. Thanks to the support of the Synod, a revolving team of guest pastors, Authorized Lay Worship Leaders, and our own congregation members are ensuring that worship happens on a regular schedule and we will enter the Lenten season with a full calendar of events. (Thank you to everyone who continues to make this happen each weekend!) Our building is well-maintained, our bills are being paid, we are collecting items and offering services for the benefit of local organizations and individuals as we always have, and we are blessed to have the talents and strengths of so many of our members being used in extraordinary ways.
John Kula
Council President
If it is difficult for you to make it to Sunday worship and you’d like to have the office email you the weekly bulletin, please send us a message and we’ll add you to the list.
Music Ministry
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10
As we journey through the season of Lent, we are reminded that our purpose in singing is not for ourselves, but for the glory of God. Our voices are raised in song as an offering to Him, and through our music, we strive to draw others into His presence. Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal—a time to turn our eyes and hearts toward the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a time to acknowledge the struggles of Christ, to recognize our own struggles, and to cling to the promises He has given us: forgiveness, redemption, and the hope of everlasting life.
In preparation for this sacred season, our choir has been and will be diligently preparing music that reflects the gravity and hope of Lent. Hymns, anthems, and spiritual songs serve as a means of introspection, encouraging both singers and listeners to embrace the penitential nature of this time while anticipating the joy of the Resurrection. Few recognize the vast and rich musical heritage that Lent offers. While Christmas may dominate the church’s musical calendar, the Lenten season has inspired some of the most profound and moving works in sacred music history.
Let the music of this season fill your hearts. Let it remind you of the struggles of Christ, the depth of His love, and the unwavering hope He provides. May we listen for His voice—not only in the spoken word but in the melodies, harmonies, and sacred texts that shape our worship. As we lift our voices in song, may we do so with hearts fully turned toward Him.
Yours in Christ,
Alan
St. Matthew’s Visitation Team
St. Matthew’s newly-formed Visitation Team needs your help! Katy Miller and Barbara Welliver-Bramer are checking in (by phone and in person) with our members who are unable to attend worship in person for whatever reason. If you know of someone who may want or need a visit or may want to speak with a pastor … or possibly you yourself are in need, please contact the church office (570-784-4515), Katy (570-441-2850 or katymiller@ptd.net), or Barbara Welliver-Bramer (570-458-5254 or barbaraandjimbramer@gmail.com). In addition, if you or a loved one are in need of special prayers or have entered a care facility, please let us know that as well. Thank you!
Worship and Music News
* May 11 is first Communion Sunday. If you have a child who is approaching the age to take first communion, please let Becky Toth know. You can email her at beckytoth@ptd.net.
* We will recognize our graduates this year on June 1. We don’t want to miss anyone, so please let Becky Toth know if you have a graduate in 2025. Please email her at beckytoth@ptd.net.
* Please see the schedule for mid-week and Lenten services. The committee has worked very hard to develop a worship schedule for noon services on Wednesdays from March 12 through April 9. Members of the congregation will lead us through the seasonal rites for Lent.
* Members of the congregation have volunteered to lead worship using the service of the Word for months in which we have five Sundays. March will be our first month for this.
* We will celebrate the 100th anniversary of our beloved church building this fall. If you would like to volunteer to be on the planning committee, please let Becky Toth know (beckytoth@ptd.net or 570-259-7015. We will hold a few meetings before then to plan this special event.
LENTEN GIVING: LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE
As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) web site states: “We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work.”
ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) collaborates with other disaster response organizations and religious entities in the United States and around the world. This enables the greatest stewardship of resources and maximum appeal of responses.
With USAID lifesaving assistance around the world now in a state of flux, groups like LDR will be relied upon now more than ever to make sure local needs are being addressed and met.
LDR follows Christ’s call to share hope and healing with our neighbor in need. Some key areas of work include providing emotional and spiritual help, coordinating volunteers, promoting disaster risk reduction, and providing long-term recovery even years after disaster strikes.
What can we do to help?
PRAY: During Lent, we will continue to raise up our prayers for our brothers and sisters in conflict areas around the world, such as Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, and South Sudan. For our neighbors in the United States, impacted by severe storms and wildfires. For all migrants and refugees who are forced to leave their homes.
GIVE: During Lent we can give monetarily to Lutheran Disaster Response to aid those affected. Our gifts will be used where there is the most need.
During Lent we will have special LDR offering baskets in the main sanctuary for weekly giving at Sunday worship services. Or you can bring cash or checks to the office, designated “Lutheran Disaster Response.”
You can donate to LDR electronically, through “Online Giving” at our St. Matthew Lutheran Church website:
https://stmatthewbloomsburg.org/st-matthew-lutheran-church/online-giving/
Want to learn more about Lutheran Disaster Response? You can visit the ELCA website for more.
Letters & News
Beth Israel Congregation invites the members of St Matthew to our community
Purim Party
Sunday March 16th
Hamantaschen Baking at 2:30pm, Reading at 4:00pm
Hosted by:
First English Baptist Church
700 Millville Rd
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Come in costume, prizes for best adult & child.
Food, Fun, Fellowship, Games
We’re seeking another person for the Camera Crew—turns come up roughly once a month.
Members of the Camera Crew each use their personal smartphones to stream the service to those unable to be physically present in worship.
What gift can you share? Altar Guild, Choirs, worship assistants of any type—all can use your gifts. Please call the office or speak to a member of the church council, Erin Hartman about choirs.
Looking Ahead
In March – Preparing for the Lenten Season—Join In! (in person and online)
* Sunday, March 2, 9 am – Worship Transfiguration of our Lord
* Wednesday, March 5, Noon and 7 pm – Ash Wednesday (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
* Date and Time TBD – Prayer breakfast (please sign up on the bulletin board)
* Sunday, March 9, 9 am – Worship Lent 1 (led by Guest Pastor Rev. Wayne Muthler)
* Wednesday, March 12, Noon – Mid-Week Lenten Service (Jana Wagner, Speaker)
* Sunday, March 16, 9 am – Worship Lent 2 (led by ALWL Wendy Davis)
* Wednesday, March 19, Noon – Mid-Week Lenten Service (Becky Toth, Speaker)
* Sunday, March 23, 9 am – Worship Lent 3 (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
* Wednesday, March 26, Noon – Mid-Week Lenten Service (Kayla McCready, Speaker)
* Sunday, March 30, 9 am – Worship Lent 4 (Service of the Word led by Becky Toth and Barbara Welliver-Bramer
¨ AA meets in the gym on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 pm. District 59 meets in the parlor third Tuesday at 7pm.
¨ Families Helping Families meets in the gym Tuesday evenings 6pm
¨ Did you know that over $1,100 a month is given electronically by members of St. Matthew?
Automated giving provides convenience for you and cash-flow consistency for St. Matthew. Getting started is easy. Additional information is available from the church office.
¨ THRIVENT MEMBERS: Please remember that you must redirect your Thrivent Choice Dollars each year. If you do not redirect your Choice Dollars yearly, Thrivent will choose a charity to receive your Choice Dollars. Please consider redirecting your Choice Dollars to St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bloomsburg. If you have any questions please contact Randy Ruckle or Elaine Stauffer. Many thanks to St Matt Thrivent members who direct their choice dollars giving to our mutual benefit!
¨ Follow St. Matthew on Facebook! Watch for online updates, info, and reminders.
Social Ministry News
* The Fair Trade Cart is back in business! Thank you to Pat Ferry for helping out with it.
* In March, we will be collecting pasta, rice, and noodles for the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard. The food cupboard continues to serve 200-230 families every Tuesday and serve 50-60 each Sunday at their drive thrus. The clients are very appreciative, especially in inclement weather.
* Our quarterly collection of diapers and baby wipes for Bundles of Blessings will also occur this month. This is a great outreach ministry offered by Good Shepherd. Diapers are given away on the third Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 am.
* St. Matthew is scheduled to cook and serve the Community Friendship Meal at Wesley on Saturday, March 15. Bonnie Ulshafer and Mary Lou Wagner are co-chairing this event now. Please see either of them if you have any questions. If you can help with this, please sign up on the bulletin board in the gathering area.
Join us for our upcoming Prayer Breakfast
Dates and time TBD – Please sign up on the sign in sheet on the bulletin board in the gathering area if you are planning to attend.
Congregation Council Highlights
(February 11 meeting)
* Pastor Chad Hebrink from Berwick attended the meeting. He has been assigned by the
* Synod to assist with administrative matters.
* Council accepted with regret the resignation of Jana Wagner, who had served as the council’s secretary last year, and wished her well with her new position.
* Denise Lorenz was appointed to serve as the council’s new secretary. Congratulations, and thank you for your willingness to serve, Denise.
* Council approved these members of St. Matthew to serve on the Ministry Site Profile committee: Kayla McCready, Katy Miller, Barbara Welliver-Bramer, Kathy Stewart, John Fridman, Dave Keller, Lynn Canty, Cathy Cosoleto, Dale Michael and John Kula.
* The upcoming need for a constitution and by-laws committee was reviewed, along with copies of previous documents provided by Pastor Hebrink.
* Finances continue to be stable. A large donation was received recently from the estate of Neil Weaser. Council approved a proposal to use 10% of this for charitable giving, place 40% into a new Certificate of Deposit to use for future projects, and place 50% in the endowment fund.
* Pastor Pam Meilands is working with a newly-formed visitation team, led by Katy Miller and Barbara Welliver-Bramer, to provide for pastoral care in this time of transition.
* An inclement weather policy was discussed. If necessary due to weather, a decision will be made by Council members no later than 7 a.m. to cancel worship. An announcement will then be posted to our Facebook page and a message will be posted on the church’s answering machine to spread the word. Rudi and Denise Lorenz, Dave Keller, and Brad Miller were thanked for unlocking the building, turning on the heat, and treating the lots and sidewalks.
* Council is considering re-keying the church and possibly purchasing a Ring-type smart doorbell in the near future to enhance building security.
* Reports from the social ministry and worship and music committees were shared.
Give a ride to worship
We’re renewing our list of folks who can provide a ride to worship for our members without transportation. If you can help out with this at any time, please contact the church office.
(worship is always livestreamed on the St Matthew Facebook page)—many thanks to our Camera Crew we’re seeking another Camera Crew member—could that be you?)
Equal Exchange
Chocolate bars – mint crunch, orange infused, milk, very dark 71%, extra dark Panama 80%.
Also many varieties of organic teas, 2 kinds of hot cocoa.
And the exotic!—Dried Mango.
Full-flavored, fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you;
the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal Exchange co-op.
Plus, Organic Virgin Olive Oil and Dates from Palestine.
Available on the cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
Did you know that over $1,000/month is given electronically by members of St. Matthew?
Automated giving provides convenience for you and cash-flow consistency for St. Matthew.
Getting started is easy. Check out the giving portal on our homepage: stmatthewbloomsburg.org
¨ Many thanks to St Matt Thrivent members who direct their choice dollars giving to the ministry of St Matt and our mutual benefit!
¨ Follow St. Matthew on Facebook!
Don’t Let The Food Cupboard Go Bare!
Help the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard serve 400+ families each week
with enough groceries to feed and care for our neighbors.
In March we’re collecting pasta, rice, and noodles
and it’s the quarterly collection of Diapers for Bundles of Blessing Diaper Ministry
St Matthew offers Equal Exchange fairly-traded products at wholesale prices throughout the year.
Fairly-traded means that everyone in the supply chain is compensated fairly and is able to work in a healthy environment. Equal Exchange trades only with farmer cooperatives who vote and together decide how to use their premiums in their communities. Premiums support environmental initiatives like beekeeping, protecting the pollinators their crops depend on. EE is committed to fully traceable supply chains to counter the child and forced labor problems in West Africa.
Thank you for supporting small-scale farmers, their communities and the environment with your purchases of fairly-traded chocolate, nuts, coffee, fruit, tea, cocoa, and olive oil.
…and what does the Divine require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6 :8
Thank you for supporting small-scale farmers, their communities and the environment with your purchases of fairly-traded chocolate, nuts, coffee, fruit, tea, cocoa, and olive oil.
Full-flavored, fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you; the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal Exchange Co-op.
Plus, Organic Virgin Olive Oil and Dates from Palestine.
Available on the cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
Baking supplies! Chocolate chips (55%), baking cocoa, almonds, pecans and cashews.
Fairly-traded, organic, wholesale prices for you; the gift of life for the growers/ producers as members in the Equal
Exchange coop. Available on the Fair Trade Project cart on Sundays and whenever the church office is open.
New on the Fair Trade Cart—Mind, Body & Soul Coffee (whole bean).
Blend of medium and Vienna roasts—smooth & creamy with chocolate notes.
Community Blessing Box Offerings
Jesus said, Go and do likewise Luke 10:37
Community Blessing Box Offerings
As you consider offerings to the Community Blessing Box, here are some items we’ve found to be in great demand:
Food items
· Individual size heat ‘n eats in flip-top cans
· Snack crackers (Lance, Keebler, etc.)
· Pop Tarts
· Individual size cereals, apple sauce/fruit
· Canned/packaged chicken/ham/tuna salad, spam, beef jerky
· Spaghetti sauce (paired with boxed pasta)
Personal care items
· (small) Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, deodorant
· (small)(bottles) Laundry soap, fabric softener/dryer sheets
· Tablets & pens
· Toilet paper
· Socks
· Wash cloths
Special thanks to Kathy Stewart for managing this vital ministry.
Food for Thought: (we picked up some tips from another newsletter—to help you help others)
So, I spent some time at a Food Bank today, and spoke to the people getting food. Here are some things I learned from those in need.
* Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
* Oil is a luxury but needed for rice a roni which they also get a lot of.
* Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
* Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
* Sugar and flour are treats.
* Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
* Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
* Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
* Everyone loves Stove Top stuffing.
In all the years I have donated food at the holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did.