EXTRA, EXTRA! – A New Pastor for St. Matthew Has Been Called
During the weekend of February 21-22, the congregation of St. Matthew had an opportunity to meet and then hear from Rev. Dr. Lisa Barnes, the candidate for our pastoral vacancy who was unanimously recommended by the call committee and then the council. Pastor Barnes joined us on February 21 for an enjoyable “meet and greet” reception and then presided over worship on February 22 before the formal vote on extending a call, which was administered by a representative from the Synod, occurred. By the grace of God, the congregation voted unanimously to call Pastor Barnes to ministry at St. Matthew. She will join St. Matthew on May 1. We invite you to read more about her later in this newsletter.
The calling of Pastor Barnes marks the end of a long process that involved many individuals from our congregation. Thank you to everyone who was involved in this effort, especially members of the Ministry Site Profile committee (Cathy Cosoleto, John Fridman, Dave Keller, John Kula, Denise Lorenz, Dale Michael, Kayla McCready, Katy Miller, Kathy Stewart, and Barbara Welliver-Bramer), members of the call committee (Pat Ferry, Stu Hartman, John Kula, Kayla McCready, Randy Ruckle, and Mary Lou Wagner), and the members of the congregation who participated in the February 22 vote.
March Opportunities for Worship
Sunday, March 1, 9 a.m. – Worship – Second Sunday in Lent (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Wednesday, March 4, Noon – Midweek Lenten Service* (led by Mary Lou Wagner)
Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m. – Worship – Third Sunday in Lent (led by Rev. Wayne Muthler)
Wednesday, March 11, Noon – Midweek Lenten Service* (led by Barbara Welliver-Bramer)
Sunday, March 15, 9 a.m. – Worship – Fourth Sunday in Lent (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Wednesday, March 18, Noon – Midweek Lenten Service* (led by Becky Toth)
Sunday, March 22, 9 a.m. – Worship – Fifth Sunday in Lent (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
Wednesday, March 25, Noon – Midweek Lenten Service* (led by Kayla McCready)
Sunday, March 29, 9 a.m. – Worship – Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday (led by ALWL Tina Baucher)
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.
Welcome, Pastor Barnes!
The call committee and congregation council at Saint Matthew are thrilled to announce that a new pastor has been successfully called to lead our congregation in the years to come. Thank you to members of the congregation who attended last month’s “meet and greet” event along with those who attended worship on the day Pastor Barnes presided and then voted the call. Excluding two votes that were deemed invalid (they did not follow the instructions offered by the Synod), the vote in favor of extending a call was unanimous.The Rev. Dr. Lisa Raylene Barnes, our new pastor, is a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and currently serves two churches in the Follmer Parish in Potts Grove. She brings more than two decades of experience in congregational and specialized ministry, including parish leadership, chaplaincy, and nonprofit community engagement, to St. Matthew.
Rev. Dr. Barnes earned her Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Life from United Lutheran Seminary in 2024. She holds a Master of Divinity with a focus in Urban Studies from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Her academic work reflects her passion for connecting faith to everyday life, including exploring how ordinary spaces—like the kitchen table—can become places of spiritual encounter.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, Rev. Dr. Barnes is committed to preaching, teaching, and pastoral care that ground the Gospel in daily experience. She has served congregations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey and previously worked as a chaplain and Director of Community Engagement with Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey. Her ministry emphasizes building strong lay leadership, fostering intergenerational learning, and nurturing communities rooted in grace and hope.
Deeply committed to justice and advocacy, Rev. Dr. Barnes serves as Secretary of the Upper Susquehanna Synod, co-chair of the Synod’s ELCA World Hunger Team, and as Racial Justice Coordinator. Guided by Micah 6:8, “to act justly, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,” she seeks to proclaim a faith that is inclusive, compassionate, and engaged in the world
Music Ministry
March always carries a certain holy tension. We remain in the searching weeks of Lent, yet we begin to notice subtle signs that something new is stirring. After what has felt like a particularly long and unyielding winter, the promise of spring feels especially welcome this year. The light lingers a bit longer. The air softens. Beneath frozen ground, life quietly prepares to rise.
Lent is a season of waiting, reflection, and honest prayer. It invites us to name what is weary, to trust God in the in-between spaces, and to lean into hope even before we see the full evidence of it. We understand what it means to watch and wait for the morning.
This year, our Lenten journey carries a unique sense of anticipation as well. We have called a new pastor who will begin her ministry with us in May. As we move through these final weeks before her arrival, we find ourselves in a meaningful season of transition. There is gratitude for where we have been, faithfulness in the present moment, and hopeful expectation for what God is preparing next for St. Matthew.
In many ways, this mirrors the rhythm of Lent itself. We walk through reflection before resurrection. We wait through winter before spring. We trust that God is at work beneath the surface long before blossoms appear. May this season help us cultivate patient trust and renewed hope. And as signs of spring begin to emerge around us, may we also open our hearts to the new chapter unfolding in our life together, confident that the One who has guided us thus far will continue to lead us into a faithful and fruitful future.
Yours in Christ,
Alan
Celebrating the Life & Service of Missionary Brian Palmer
On Wednesday, February 25, we received the shocking news that Rev. Brian Palmer, an ELCA missionary in Liberia, had been killed in a very tragic motorcycle accident. (Motorcycles are the primary means of transportation in Liberia.) This news traveled like a shockwave through our Upper Susquehanna Synod, where many congregations, including St. Matthew, have provided ongoing support for Brian’s
ministry.
He had visited St. Matthew a few years ago to share his experiences in Liberia, and an upcoming trip back to the U.S. – and St. Matthew – was in planning. Please keep Rev. Palmer and his two adult sons and parents who survive him in your ongoing thoughts and prayers.
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall
not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord,
who has compassion on you.” – Isaiah 54:10
Special Mother’s Day Event Being Planned
A special Mother’s Day event is being planned for Sunday, May 10 immediately following worship. More details are forthcoming but if you’re interested in helping out or plan to attend, please check out the main bulletin board in the Gathering Area for more details and to sign up. Thank you to those planning to recognize and thank our deserving mothers!
2026 Pet Lenten Project
During the Lenten season, St. Matthew will be collecting pet food and care items to benefit the Animal Resource Center (ARC) in Danville, K9 Hero Haven in Danville, and Pets for Vets in Benton. Beginning on February 18, baskets for donated items will be displayed in the gathering area and monetary donations can be placed in the offering plates, mailed, or dropped off at the church office. (Please write “Pet Project” somewhere on your check or donation.) Items needed include wet and dry cat and dog foods, soft treats, Milk Bone biscuits, towels, clumping litter, and heavy duty trash bags. Thank you for considering the needs of our area furry friends!
Youth Activities Offered by the USS
Registration for Camp Mount Luther is currently open and applications for prospective camp staff are now being accepted. Please visit the camp’s web site (campmountluther.org) for more details or to register. Also, our Synod is offer a number of events for youth and young adults in the upcoming months. Learn more about them and register by visiting the Upper Susquehanna Synod’s web site (uss-elca.org).
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
Help Support the Bloomsburg Food Cupboard This February
The Bloomsburg Food Cupboard continues to provide groceries for 275 to 300 area families each week. Throughout March, St. Matthew is collecting pasta, rice, and noodles for the Bloomsburg 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 web site 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.
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.