A New Year Begins…
The start of a new year is always a good time to reflect on where we — as a church and congregation — have been and where we’re going in the year ahead. That’s especially important this year as we pass the first anniversary of being without a full-time pastor. It’s hard to believe that more than a year has passed since we said goodbye to Pastor Zeiders, who is still greatly missed.
As we look back on 2025, it’s hard to avoid feeling a strong sense of gratitude. This past year could have looked much different. While it was a time marked by transition and uncertainty, it ended as a season of faithfulness, teamwork, and quiet strength, all made possible by the important contributions of many individuals as well as the continued support by the congregation as a whole.
Over the past year, not one Sunday worship service was missed. Week after week, our lay ministers, interim pastors, and guest pastors — Wendy Davis, Tina Baucher, Rev. Wayne Muthler, Pastors Chad and Pam, and members of our own congregation — continued to shepherd our flock. Week after week, our community gathered, prayed, and sang, supported by many who stepped forward with generosity and grace. Our finances remained stable, thanks to careful financial management and our congregation’s ongoing commitment to stewardship. Along the way, we completed both expected and unexpected maintenance projects, providing important maintenance for the physical home of St. Matthew’s ministries. Most joyfully, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of our beloved church building, honoring a century of worship, service, and community within its walls.
None of this would have been possible without YOUR faithful presence, prayers, and generosity, so we take this opportunity to sincerely thank you. As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with optimism and hope, trusting that with God’s guidance — and your continued support — the best chapters are still to come. Our collective prayer is that 2026 will close with a new pastor on board, membership and attendance at worship increased (or at least stable), and the church’s finances in good shape which, in turn, will enable us to catch up on some long-deferred projects.
Happy new year!
January Opportunities for Worship
Sunday, January 4, 9 a.m. – Worship – Second Sunday of Christmas (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Sunday, January 11, 9 a.m. – Worship – Baptism o fOur Lord (led by Rev. Wayne Muthler)
Sunday, January 18, 9 a.m. – Worship – Second Sunday after Epiphany (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Sunday, January 25, 9 a.m. – Worship – Third Sunday after Epiphany (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
The Synod is currently working on worship assignments. They will be announced when they are released.
Worship services are live streamed on the congregation’s Facebook page.
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
Thank you to all who participated in the music ministry during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Your dedication and vibrant energy continue to bring a sense of wonder and hope to the celebrations of Christ’s birth. A special thank you to all those who supported our 20th Anniversary Jubilate Season. From the many comments received, the concerts were among some of the best as we were able to highlight some of our favorite pieces in the archives. Many thanks to all those who generously supported the choir and orchestra through sponsorships, ushering, setup/cleanup, and numerous other invaluable ways. Your collective efforts truly made a difference!
Through these offerings, music continues to serve as prayer — deepening worship and drawing us more fully into the story of faith. During the month of January, the choirs will take a much-deserved break before preparing for the more reflective journey of Lent in early February. As we look ahead, we welcome both returning and new voices who may be curious about sharing in this ministry.
“Music is a gift of God, not merely to please the ear, but to move the heart toward faith, “
— Martin Luther
A Prayer for the New Year
Faithful God,
As we enter a new year, we thank you for your presence in all that has been and all that is yet to come. Grant us renewed.faith, generous hearts, and open spirits for the work ahead.
Guide our congregation through times ofchange, strengthen us for service, and help us to walk together in trust and hope. Lead us by your Holy Spirit, that in this new year we may grow in lovefor you, for one anothe; andfor the world you so deeply love.
Amen.
Ongoing Ministries at St. Matthew
Supporting the Blessing Box
Donations for the Community Blessing Box are welcomed anytime and can be placed in the designated containers in the Gathering Area. Particularly useful items include heat and eat items, snack crackers, single servings of cereal, and similar nonperishable items, along with personal hygiene products. Thank you for your consistent donations, especially as winter approaches. The Blessing Box
January Collection for the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard
Please help the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard continue to provide groceries for 275-300 area families each week. During January, we are collecting canned soups for the Food Cupboard. Want to make a monetary donation instead of donating food? Checks can be made out to Bloomsburg Food Cupboard or donations can be made online at their website; (www.bloomsburgfoodcupboard.org).
Thank you for your faithful support, which is needed more now than ever!
Bloomsburg Teen Center Ministry Food Donations
St. Matthew continues to stock homemade frozen meals and snacks for delivery each month to the Bloomsburg Teen Center.
To contribute, simply store your food in a well-sealed freezer container, label it with the contents and date, and place it in the freezer leading to the kitchen in the church basement. Things like soups, lasagnas, meatballs, chili, rice or pasta dishes, casseroles, mac and cheese, or any other easily reheatable treats will be a hit with the teens. Thank you for your outstanding support of this newer ministry!
Bundles of Blessings Quarterly Diaper Collection
Diapers and baby wipes are given out on the third Saturday of every month from 9 to 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church at 101 East Fifth Street in Bloomsburg. St. Matthew collects diapers quarterly (including in December) for their distribution.
Thank you for 12 years of faithful donations!
The Visitation Team
Do you or someone you know need special prayers, a friendly phone call, or a visit? Have you or a loved one entered a care facility? Would you like a visit from our visitation pastor, Pastor Pam? Please let the visitation team know and they will work to arrange whatever care you might need. Contact the church office (570-784-4515), Katy Miller (570-441-2850), or Barbara Welliver-Bramer (570-458-5254). Prayer is powerful and a friendly voice, a warm smile, or a heartfelt personal note can be a great comfort to someone in their time of need.
Looking Ahead to 2026 …
January 17 Fellowship breakfast – Watch for more details to come!
February 3 Worship and music committee meeting (6:30 p.m.)
An Update from the Call Committee
In last month’s newsletter, we shared that the call committee was presented with a candidate for our pastoral vacancy. The call committee held its first meeting with the candidate in early December and then debriefed before the holidays. In the coming weeks the call committee will be traveling to another church in the area to hear a sample sermon by the candidate. Following that, the call committee will decide whether to recommend the committee to the council who, under the Synod’s guidelines, will accept or reject the candidate. If the candidate is approved by the council for consideration, the next step will involve offering a sample sermon for the congregation, followed by a formal written vote by members of the church that will be overseen by representatives from the Synod. At least two weeks notice for the congregation will be required prior to the candidate’s sermon so please watch and listen carefully for additional updates to come. The participation of members in this voting process will be extremely important as we strive to identify and secure our next pastor. If you have any questions about this process, please don’t hesitate to see or contact any member of the call committee.
Help Support the Teen Center Meal Ministry…
The Social Ministry Committee is looking for help from folks who like to cook! We will be providing frozen meals periodically to the Teen Center at 36 East Main Street in Bloomsburg. Young folks visit the Teen Center Monday through Thursday and many times are in need of something to eat. You can provide a whole meal, or simply a quart of soup.
How will it work? We will be “stockpiling” meals in the church basement freezer located at the bottom of the stairs leading to the kitchen/fellowship hall. Simply put your food in a freezer container, label it with the contents and the date, and put in the freezer. We will see that the Teen Center gets the meals!
Suggested types of meals: things that freeze well and can be heated up in a microwave or air fryer, like soups, lasagna, meatballs, sloppy joes, chili, stuffed peppers, rice or pasta dishes, casseroles, mac ‘n cheese, etc. Think “what will teenagers like to eat?”
This is an on-going, local ministry that was started by Madison O’Shea, a BU student, as her Senior Project. Thanks for your help to make a difference for our local teens!
Have a question? Contact any member of the Social Ministry Committee: Kathy Stewart, Denise Lorenz, Bonnie Ulshafer, Cathy Cosoleto, Mary Lou Wagner, Pat Ferry or Katy Miller.
St. Matthew’s Visitation Team
Visitation Team Reminder
Do you or someone you know need special prayers, a friendly phone call, or a visit? Have you or a loved one entered a care facility? Would you like a visit from our visitation pastor, Pastor Pam? Please let us know and we will arrange whatever care you are in need of. Contact the church office (570-784-4515), Katy Miller (570-441-2850), or Barbara Welliver-Bramer (570-458-5254). Prayer is powerful and a friendly voice, a warm smile, or a heartfelt personal note can go a long way in comforting someone.
¨ 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.
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.