A Message from Pastor Lisa, Our New Pastor
Dear Siblings in Christ,
It’s a pleasure to write the first of what I anticipate will be many, many, many newsletter articles as your pastor.
I moved into my new apartment in Lightstreet on April 17, but I am SO far from settled. It’s about three-quarters the size of the parsonage I was living in, so figuring out where everything is going to go is a challenge. There is still SO much unpacking left to do! But I am nothing if not resourceful. Still, I suspect I’ll be living out of boxes for a while.
It may take me some time to fully embrace this as home, but my dog, Kaia, and two cats, Penelope and Henri, are all adjusting nicely. Kaia is especially excited to have a fenced-in backyard; maybe a little less excited about learning to navigate a new neighborhood on our walks.
While it still may be a little chaotic at home, I’m ready to get started, my friends. After nine years of serving multipoint parishes, I look fonvard to focusing on ONE church community. But I know y’all are going to keep me busy! I appreciate your understanding and patience as I familiarize myself with the congregation and community. I have a lot to learn.
A few things to note:
- My contact info: (856) 417-5813 / RevLisaBarnes@gmail.com. Feel free to contact me anytime, EXCEPT .
My sabbath (day off) is Friday. I will ask you not to text, call, or email unless it’s an urgent matter. This will be a big help, as I’m not always good at maintaining balance between my vocation and my personal life;
- I can’t promise set office hours, but I suspect you’ll find me in the office most Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings (please call first to check, so you don’t make an unnecessary trip). You can also set up an appointment;
- If you give me coffee and/or peanut butter cups, I will be your best friend forever!!
I imagine that, like me, you are excited (and maybe a little bit nervous) about what lies ahead for this new pastor congregation relationship. While we can’t know what the future holds, we can trust that the Holy Spirit is working within and around us as we proclaim the promise and possibility of the Risen Christ in this time and place. God is good.
More to come!
Peace be with you
Pastor Lisa
“The Lord has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the LORD require ofyou but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
Thank You to Authorized Lay Worship Leader Tina Baucher and Pastor Wayne Muthler for regularly leading worship at St. Matthew during our pastoral vacancy. Thanks also to Authorized Lay Worship Leader Wendy Davis, who also led worship at St. Matthew until being reassigned to her home parish.
May Opportunities for Worship
Sunday, May 3, 9 a.m. – Worship – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 10, 9 a.m. – Worship – Sixth Sunday of Easter, followed by Mother’s Day Brunch
Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m. – Worship – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 17, 3 p.m. – Jubilate Choir & Catawissa Military Band Concert
Sunday, May 24, 9 a.m. – Worship – Day of Pentecost and Confirmation
Sunday, May 31, 9 a . m. -Worship – The Holy Trinity
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.
From Pastor Wayne Muthler:
I want to thank everyone at St. Matthew’s for the incredible and touching “thank you ” you showed me on Sunday, April 12th. I so very much appreciate the blessing during worship, the lovely coffee hour, the thoughtful plaque, and the touching card with all those notes! I am truly moved by your kindness and support of me during my time with you! I was most blessed and deeply enriched by it and all of you! It means so very much to me!
Please know that you all will continue to be in my prayers as you begin this new ministry with Pastor Lisa! Abundant blessings in the exciting journey ahead!
Thanks again!
Pastor Wayne Muthler
From Authorized Lay Worship Leader Tina Baucher:
Dear Congregation Members at St. Matthews,
Please accept my sincere Thank you for the coffee fellowship time, flowers, and beautiful plaque.
I will never forget what I have learned while being at St. Matthew. I appreciate all that you have allowed me to achieve as a Lay Worship Leader. Thank you for your kindness.
Sharing God’s word with everyone has been one of the inspiring, memorable, happy, and unforgettable times of my life.
Thank you so much!
Peace and Blessings to You All!
Tina Baucher, ALWL
Upper Susquehanna Synod
Music Ministry
“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things!” —Psalm 98:1
Another season is drawing to a close for the music ministry at St. Matthew, and with it comes a natural rhythm of reflection and anticipation. As we look toward the summer months, we are reminded that this is a time for renewal and restoration. It feels especially fitting as we prepare to welcome Pastor Barnes, marking a new chapter that aligns beautifully with this season of growth and fresh beginnings.
Thank you once again to everyone who joined us for the Hymns & Classics piano and organ concert in mid-April, and to those who helped organize the fellowship time that followed. We are deeply grateful for your continued support of the music ministry and for the opportunity to showcase two of our most treasured instruments. Events like these remind us that music is not only an offering in worship, but also a way to gather, connect, and celebrate together as a community.
As we continue through the Easter season, we hold fast to the joy and promise of the Resurrection. Music continues to serve as a powerful expression of that hope; each hymn and anthem offered not for ourselves, but as a prayer to the glory of God. This spring has been especially meaningful, and we extend sincere thanks to our choir members for their dedication, preparation, and faithful leadership in worship.
We also look ahead with excitement to our upcoming combined concert on Sunday, May 17th at 3:00 pm, featuring the Jubilate Choir and the Catawissa Military Band. This special performance will honor our nation’s 250th anniversary while also reflecting on themes of peace, unity, and reconciliation. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us for what promises to be a meaningful and celebratory afternoon.
As our choirs begin to wind down for the season, we invite you to consider sharing your musical gifts during the summer months. Special music is an important part of our worship life, and we warmly welcome vocalists, instrumentalists, and small ensembles to participate. Whether you are a regular participant or have been waiting for an opportunity to contribute, this is a wonderful time to do so. Please reach out if you are interested—we would be glad to include you.
Yours in Christ,
Alan
Congratulations, Graduates!
St. Matthew congratulates the following graduates on their upcoming graduations:
- Elijah McCready will graduate from Central Columbia High School on June 6 and will enter into an electrical union apprenticeship.
- Jeffrey Kluck will graduate from Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg, on May 16 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
If you know of any additional high school or college graduates connected to our congregation, please let the church office, Pastor Lisa, or Becky Toth know ASAP.
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
The Community Blessings 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 Bloomsburg Food Cupboard
The Bloomsburg Food Cupboard continues to provide groceries for 275 to 300 area families each week. Throughout May, St. Matthew is collecting canned fruit 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
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 Lisa? 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.
¨ 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.
Equal Exchange fairly-traded products on sale 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